Chronic Stress, Research Shows How Chronic Stress Ages You

The fact that chronic stress ages you has been confirmed in study by scientists at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). The study has identified the first direct link between stress and aging. Their findings could explain why intense, long-term emotional strain and stress can make people get sick and grow old before their time. The study focused on a group of mothers who were caring for chronically ill children and compared those mothers who experienced the highest levels of stress against those who experienced the lowest levels of stress - what they found was amazing and quite horrifying, the women who experienced the highest levels of stress had a biological age ten years older than the women who experienced the lowest levels of stress. This article explores this research, its findings and some strategies for dealing with stress.

A report on the BBC’s website, says that the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science’s study shows how stress could be linked to the early onset of age-related diseases. Their findings are that Telomeres which are strips of DNA at the end of chromosomes which appear to have a protective and stabilising effect on the chromosome ends shorten as we age. Each time a cell divides, these Telomeres get shorter until, in the natural ageing process, they get so short that cells can no longer divide and so they die. The research also looked at levels of an enzyme called Telomerase which helps to Telomeres to stave off this shortening process.

As more and more cells get to this stage, the effect of aging can be seen and felt in our bodies, muscles weaken, skin wrinkles, eyesight and hearing fail, our vital organs become less efficient and our thinking abilities diminish.

The women in the study who were caring for sick children had shorter telomeres than women of a similar age who had healthy children. The result sounds very dramatic when you read that they concluded that this shortening was the equivalent to an additional ageing of 10 years (yes, TEN years).

It is now possible to buy Telomerase supplements which have come onto the market as a result of this study. This supplement is a natural plant extract from the Astragalus plant and is called Cycloastragenol or TA-65 or TA65 and it is reported to turn back on the Telomerase production in the body, lengthening the Telomeres and is therefore marketed for its anti-aging properties.

It was also found that these high-stress women had higher levels of what is known as oxidative stress levels. This is cumulative damage over time caused by molecules called ‘free radicals’ which we have all heard so much of lately in relation to many of the much publicised ‘superfoods’ which have excellent antioxidant properties.

So, it seems that there really is a link between stress and premature ageing and the illnesses and diseases that come with it. What can we do about it? It seems that the very things that we turn to when we feel stressed can make the problem worse.

How often do we come in from work and pour ourselves a glass (or three) of wine to relax and unwind when we have had a frazzling day? The researchers say don’t! Drinking alcohol is dehydrating, the liver cannot remove toxins so well and our skin looks drawn and more prone to wrinkles. So if you do reach for a glass of wine, intersperse your alcoholic drinks with a glass of water – you should in any case be drinking six to eight glasses of water each day.

Another thing that we do is eat comfort foods when we are stressed. Biscuits, cakes, chocolate and fast food – with the result that our bodies are not getting the vitamins and minerals they need. Remember those ‘free radicals’? We need plenty of vitamin C rich fruits and vegetables to avoid dry, dull skin or spots.

We are more likely to smoke when we are stressed too. People who have managed to kick the habit always say that the time when they most feel they need a cigarette is when they are under pressure. Smoking reduces levels of oxygen in the blood and this too has an effect on our skin and the way we look.

We often find it hard to sleep when we are stressed. Try to get at least seven or eight hours sleep each night. If you feel tense and stressed, try a warm bath to relax and wind down before bed and don’t have your bedroom too warm 18°C is about right for a good night’s sleep.

If you feel under constant stress, talk to your Doctor about stress-reduction techniques such as yoga or meditation that could help you. As Dr Elizabeth Epel who helped conduct the research in the UCSF study said, “The findings emphasise the importance of managing life stress, to take it seriously if one feels stressed, to give your body a break, and make life changes that promote well-being”.

As Professor Thomas von Zglinicki of the University of Newcastle says “The paper confirms the general perception that stress ‘wears you out’”. It’s time to do something about it, the clock is ticking!

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