There is a mountain of evidence and studies by many top Universities and scientific organizations that show that chronic stress negatively influences our health and speeds up our biological aging.
It is a scientific fact that the hormones of stress, known as cortisol, can cause a chain reaction and, in turn down-regulate certain proteins and genes leading to disease.Hormones of stress down-regulate our genes and exacerbate physical health problems such as heart disease, addiction, mood disorders, metabolic problems and inflammation. They also alter immune system responses and suppress the digestive system which accelerates obesity-related disorders such as diabetes. Stress destroys our ability to regulate emotions and to think clearly.
A Yale study is the first concrete evidence that stress can shorten our lifespan and have negative health consequences beyond any other mental or physical health conditions. Chronic stress one of the biggest reasons behind of premature aging and poor health.
There are other scientific studies shows that only twenty percent of our longevity is controlled by our genes that we inherited from our ancestors. The rest is in the hands of lifestyle choices we make. The most important ones are:
- Being mindful of what causes stress, and manage it. High stress negatively impacts every system in the body. Mindfulness practices such as meditation and focused breathing may help reduce stress levels and improve mood.
- Eat a healthy diet with lot fruits and vegetables which will provide your body with the nutrients it needs for optimal health and help regulate stress.
- Exercise on a regular basis to relieve stress. Scientists discovered that cardiovascular activity and vigorous workout helps the heart pump more blood to the brain and causes brain cells to become more active which results in more oxygen and better-nourished brain cells. Many other studies have shown that engaging in physical activity helps reduce stress levels and improve mood.
- Get plenty of deep sleep on a consistent basis.
- Taking proven supplements that can reduce chronic stress.
- Spend time in the nature. Studies show that spending even short time in the nature is a healthy way to manage stress.
- Get social. Having a social support system is important for your overall mental wellbeing and help you get through stressful times.
- Practice deep and mindful breathing techniques.
How we think, how we feel and choices we make ultimately create our state of well-being. Stress does indeed make our life “clock” tick faster — but we can help manage the factors that cause this acceleration by strengthening our emotion regulation and self-control. So, preventive interventions that decrease stress and improve resilience may help maintain long-term mental and physical health.
