Stress will increase and kill brain cells

Bismillahi Babuna 

 **Stress why we need to control it and learn to De-stress**
Stress will decease and kill brain cells and give us illnesses and early aging and early death.

Stress kills or damages brain cells, the same is true and known that lack of oxygen will kill brain cells. When you’re stressed or worked up we lessen the amount of oxygen going to your brains, so panicking lessens the oxygen needed which either causes damage and slowly kills the brains cells and causes early aging to the body and soul which in turn brings about a premature death. 

It says that Anxiety –Hamm and depression-Ghamm can double your age and half your life this is known by modern doctors too. Thus the Sunnah dua is Allahumma inni a'udhu bika mina'l hammi... O Allah! I seek refuge in You from anxiety and depression /grief...

So, does stress kill brain cells?
 

Yes as stress causes the release of a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol has been shown to damage and kill cells in the hippocampus (the brain area responsible for your episodic memory) and there is robust evidence that chronic stress causes premature brain aging. Without cortisol you would die – but too much of it is not a good thing. It seems it makes your brain more vulnerable to damage such as strokes, ageing and stressful events.

In addition to hippocampal shrinkage, major life stress may shrink brain neurons in the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC), the brain area responsible for problem-solving, adaptation to challenge, emotional processing and regulation, impulse control, and regulation of glucose and insulin metabolism.

Prolonged exposure to stress can shrink the brain, both via the damaging effects of cortisol on brain neurons, and by disrupting expression of genes that facilitate neuronal connections. “Stress makes us stupid”—because stress shuts down the thinking part of the brain so that we can respond to threat instinctively and reflexively.

What happens to us when we are stressed? We panic burn out and over work the brain, understand the brain is a muscle and made from 75% water like the rest of us when it’s over used it gets tired, worn out and it needs to be watered this is done through drinking water. “Water is life for the whole body”. 

The brain uses more energy than any other of human organs it uses up to 25% of the body's total usage per day. In the brain itself, neurons devoted to visual processing number in the hundreds of millions and take up about 30% of the cortex, as compared with 8% for touch and just 3% for hearing.

So within the brain the energy of processing usage is 30% energy for seeing and 8% for hearing and 3% for touch, that’s over 40% usage of energy that the brain is using without doing anything just being awake.

One of the sunnah methods to help heal and reduce stress is (Qailulah) or Power napping.

Just for a moment think that your brain is like mobile phone, and see that you’re using 40% of your processing power just being awake and thus relaxing or power napping is needed. We need to rest our eyes, ears and other senses, so our processors, the brain can charge up again and so we won’t be worn down. We address this issue by learning to relax by resting our brains and body even for 10 to 30 mins in the midday which is a Sunnah called Qailula.

 

This will allow our brains to recharge and be full of energy and more ready to deal with the rest of the day.  It is a well known sunnah and only now has this been appreciated recently by modern scientists. The brain needs rest a simple short mid-day nap (Qailulah) or Power napping has many benefits in many ways, some of the benefits are mentioned below.

Hadith “Take a nap, for the shayatan do not take naps” (Tabarani)
 
A short mid-day nap, which is called Qailulah, this is a Sunnah of our Prophet (peace be upon him). It is not necessary to sleep, but rather to lie down during the daytime for some time to relax.

Another Hadith mentions that our Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Sleeping early in the day betrays ignorance, in the middle of the day is right, and at the end of the day is foolish.”(Fath Al-Bari, p.73).

Another Narration mentions, “We used to offer the Jumua Salah with Nabi (peace be upon him) and then take the afternoon nap. (Al-Bukhari)

Ishaaq ibn ‘Abd-Allah said: “Taking a nap is one of the deeds of good people. It revitalizes the heart and helps one to pray qiyaam al-layl.”

The value of this mid-day nap is total body relaxation and Siesta-loving persons are more relaxed. They usually score better on stress tests than others who don’t take a short-nap during the day.

The risk of heart disease is shown to be greatly reduced by regular 30 minute naps. Naps greatly strengthen the ability to pay close attention to details and to make critical decisions.

Interestingly, research has shown that six-minute naps, known as ultra-short sleep episodes, can improve declarative memory (i.e. a type of long-term memory that pertains to our ability to recall facts and knowledge and also 60 minute naps, which are also good for cognitive memory processing.

Power napping while on the job is not a bad idea. Planned naps have been shown to improve alertness and performance. What these and other studies are showing is that naps can restore our attention, the quality of our work, while also helping us reduce our mistakes. It also improves our ability to learn while on the job. What’s more, the effects of napping extend a few hours into the day.

 A 15 minute nap is enough time to turn the nervous system off and can recharge the whole system.  According to research, 1 minute Qailulah quality equivalent to 45 minutes of time we sleep at night. So, just enough to get 15 minutes Qailulah, we are able to wake up without feeling drowsy evening prayers If you are going to nap in the middle of the day, BE CONSISTENT and make a habit of napping every day. And most importantly do it with intention for sunnah, you shall be rewarded for napping!

Getting back to our example of the mobile phone, when it is not in use it goes into power save mode or hibernate mode which helps to save power and energy and stops being over worked so the power dies we too need to learn different modes, like mobiles or computers as we don’t have a build fan to cool us down we simply have to close ourselves down for a short while.  We don’t have these techniques that the mobiles or computers have and even with them if over used they will soon break down and for us the result is major illness  a burn out or a break down and our brains start to get killed.

Effects of Bananas on the brain and mentioned in Quran

In a verse in which the Garden is described, Allah speaks of bananas in this way:

Amid thornless lote‐trees, and banana‐trees (with fruits), one above another. And extended shade, and water flowing constantly, and abundant fruit, neither intercepted nor forbidden. (Surat al‐Waqi'a: 28‐33)

First tip and goodness, Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber.   A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.   It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet. 

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana.  

This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

Brain Power: 200 students at a school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power.  Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance.  When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

This why from Brain Gyms its good eat a banana a day to help the brain when stress out as we lose potassium due to exam stress and bananas are very high in potassium and to drink water helps the brain to think better and throughout the test or exam taking sips of water keeps brain activity and alertness higher and less chance of getting headaches or brain blocks while trying to think or under pressure.

Water the brain Drinking Water Makes You Smarter and deep breathing 

Drinking water can increase your cognitive function. Your brain needs a lot of oxygen in order to function at optimum levels. Drinking plenty of water ensures that your brain gets all the oxygen it needs. Drinking eight to ten cups of water per day can improve your levels of cognitive performance by as much as 30%!

Drinking plenty of water also supports nerve function. It ensures that your body's electrolyte levels remain high enough to allow your nerves to relay messages to and from the brain in the way they were meant to.

Oxygen for Brain Development 

Our bodies are 65 percent water. Our brains are 75 percent water. Water, H2O, is made from two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen. Our brain needs oxygen and water for optimum brain functioning. To help our brains be their best, we need to drink lots of water, and breathe efficiently.

One of the most efficient and effective ways for stimulating brain function is breathing. To help focus and recall skills, inhaling for a count of five and exhaling for a count of five. Take six breaths, which should only take a minute. By doing this easy breathing exercise when under stress or before and during tests. 

Dr. Hannaford, a neuro-biologist, found that a two-minute breathing exercise helps students gain control over their emotions and focus on the tasks at hand. Getting adequate oxygen to the brain is a critical component of brain development. Since our bodies are 65 percent water, even a small level of dehydration can impair function. Carbonated and caffeinated beverages act as diuretics and do not re-hydrate our bodies. The best drink for hydration is water.

So what steps to take? 

So learn we need to pace ourselves throughout the day with water, to be cool and water keep the brain well oiled, as water is Oxygen (water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen) and the brain is a muscle and it needs plenty of oxygen to be healthy and even alive, others we can damage our cells or even kill with stress as stress will release of a hormone called cortisol which kills our brain cells. 

So plenty of water, eating banana (the Quran mentions Bananas) which are very high in Potassium which is lost with stress, The Sunnah of (Qailulah) or Power napping 15mins resting with a simply relaxation through “closed eyes” meditation or dhikr and deep breathing gives more oxygen to the body and brain also its said or known repetitive meditation or dhikr increases the grey matter meaning it increases your Brain cells.  Then this Dua is known to help with Stress and depression.

Allahumma inni a'udhu bika mina'l hammi wa'l hazan wa a'udhu bika mina'l-'ajzi wa'l kasal wa a'udhu bika minal jubni wa'l bukhl wa a'udhu bika min ghalabati'd dayn wa qahri'r-rijal.

O Allah! I seek refuge in You from anxiety and grief, and I seek refuge in You from weakness and laziness, and I seek refuge in You from cowardice and miserliness, and I seek refuge in You from being overwhelmed by debt, and the tyranny of men. 

Also sharing your problems helps to release stress so come and contact Uns Foundation and discuss your issues and learn other methods to release and lessen stress.

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Comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness from Depression

Giving Sadaqah will help with Duas being answered, Sins be erased and sicknesses are sometimes due to sins; Showing gratitude is sunnah and Allah loves those slaves who shows gratitude; gratitude earns more (ziyada) favours from Allah, Allah promises increased favours for those who are grateful and (hates misers see hadith below) "And when your Lord proclaimed: "If you are thankful, I will give you more"(14:7) and "We shall reward those who are thankful" (3:45)  Allah informs us that one of Satans primary objectives is to prevent humans from being grateful. So show you  support be Thankful for these Duas and Khidma and take more rewards from Allah by Helping and Support “The Sufi Healing Project” through Uns Foundation and take the barakah of this site and all the people who read its duas too through Sadaqah Jariyah.

Giving a small amount of sadaqah monthly is continuous giving which is most beloved deed before Allah. Everyday 70 problems come our way and Sadaqah is a shield to protect yourself and your family. The most beloved deed before Allah is that which is continuous, even if it is little. The constant giving of a little is said to please Allah more than the occasional gift of a lot. So if it’s in your means to donate a small amount of £2-£3 or more a month and Support “The Sufi Healing Project” through Uns Foundation.

Know about the shield of giving: "Give Sadaqah without delay, for it stands in the way of problems/calamities."(Tirmidhi) it says 70 problems that is one is shielded from 70 problems with just a small amount of sadaqah.

Saqaqah washes your sins away: "Sadaqah extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire." (Tirmidhi) "Sadaqah appeases-(To satisfy or relieve) the Lord’s anger and averts an evil death." (Tirmidhi)

The Shade of Sadaqah: “The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his Sadaqah.” (Tirmidhi)  "The generous man is near Allah, near paradise, near men and far from hell, but the miserly man is far from Allah, far from paradise, far from men and near hell. Indeed, an ignorant man who is generous is dearer to Allah than a worshipper who is miserly."(Tirmidhi)

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Muhammad Sajad Ali
Sufi Webmaster of Deenislam.co.uk / Instructor, Herbalist and Healing Therapist