Home
Newsletter
Events
Blogs
Reports
Graphics
RSS
About Us
Support
Write for Us
Media Info
Advertising Info
Chronic stress

Chronic stress accelerates aging, say scientists

Monday, August 14, 2006 by: NewsTarget
Tags: chronic stress, aging, health news


Most Viewed Articles
https://www.naturalnews.com/019974_chronic_stress_aging.html
Delicious
diaspora
Print
Email
Share

(NewsTarget) A University of California, San Francisco psychiatry department review focusing on stress and hormonal shifts' relation to aging found that people who are healthy, active and able to handle chronic stress age better than their peers.

While Elissa Epel, Ph.D. and colleagues said that some hormonal shifts were a normal part of aging, they added things like social isolation, financial stress and bereavement could contribute to chronic stress. This can affect the body's delicate hormone balance, which can, in turn, actually speed the aging process.

"In this way, there may be synergistic effects of aging and chronic stress," the researchers wrote in their study, to be presented tomorrow at the American Psychological Association's 2006 convention in New Orleans.

However, the study noted that older people were not automatically predisposed to increased aging through stress; some were more active, healthier and better able to handle it. This, the researchers said, was a skill people of all ages could benefit from learning.

According to Epel, people can help reduce stress's effect on aging through a variety of techniques such as:

  • Moderate exercise
  • Good sleep
  • Managing your expectations and goals
  • Acceptance — not trying to control things you can't
  • Finding meaning
  • Strengthening meaningful social ties
  • Spiritual or religious beliefs
Health experts also note that free radicals can augment the negative effects of aging, and combining exercise with a diet of antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries and pomegranates can combat these free radicals and provide a variety of other health benefits. In a 2005 NewsTarget article, health advocate Mike Adams said that the old adage "Laughter is the best medicine" rings especially true for those looking to manage stress.

###


Receive Our Free Email Newsletter

Get independent news alerts on natural cures, food lab tests, cannabis medicine, science, robotics, drones, privacy and more.


comments powered by Disqus



Natural News Wire (Sponsored Content)

Science.News
Science News & Studies
Medicine.News
Medicine News and Information
Food.News
Food News & Studies
Health.News
Health News & Studies
Herbs.News
Herbs News & Information
Pollution.News
Pollution News & Studies
Cancer.News
Cancer News & Studies
Climate.News
Climate News & Studies
Survival.News
Survival News & Information
Gear.News
Gear News & Information
Glitch.News
News covering technology, stocks, hackers, and more