We can’t stress it enough – Stress can be detrimental to your overall health.

April is National Stress Awareness Month. You have probably heard, or have likely even said yourself, “I’m so stressed out!” But what exactly is stress?

What is Stress?

According to the American Psychological Association, “stress can be brief, situational, and a positive force motivating performance, but if experienced over an extended period of time it can become chronic stress, which negatively impacts health and well-being.” In other words, stress can be a natural reaction in certain situations such as navigating traffic, preparing to host an event, or even going to a doctor’s appointment. But what happens to your body when you experience stress?

When stressed, our body activates fight or flight responses. In this state, our body is flooded “with stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol that elevate your heart rate, increase your blood pressure, boost your energy, and prepare you to deal with the problem.” While this may be nothing to worry about in occasional bouses, repeated acute stress can contribute to inflammation in your coronary arteries which can lead to heart attacks and increased cholesterol levels over time.

Chronic stress is considered long-lasting stress levels that interfere with your ability to perform normal tasks. Common symptoms include fatigue, inability to concentrate, or irritability. Chronic stress can take a toll on your health and wellbeing. It can cause disease, increase the risk of coronary disease, and a suppressed immune system.

Does Stress Affect Older Adults More?

The short answer is yes.

As previously mentioned, there is a link between stress and increased inflammation. According to a report in the American Institute of Stress, the inflammation can cause a variety of issues in older adults such as

• Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
• Type 2 diabetes
• Arthritis
• Dementia
• Some cancers

The same report states that chronic stress also can reduce the effectiveness of some vaccines in older adults, and that stress accelerates the aging process itself.

Stay Stress-Free

Taking measures to reduce and manage stress is pivotal for your long-term health. While stress may be a natural response in certain situations, its best to recognize this feeling of stress and reduce it the best you can. The National Council on Aging recommends these 6 tips for mitigating stress:

1. If possible, remove the source of stress.
2. Eat a healthy and balanced diet to reduce the effects of inflammation.
3. Drink the recommended amount of water to help boost your energy and stabilize your emotions.
4. Physical activity can help reduce stress as your body releases endorphins and other chemicals that boost your overall sense of wellbeing.
5. Get enough sleep. While asleep, your body “repairs itself and the mind takes a break.” In REM sleep, your body relaxes and promotes good memory and mood to your brain.
6. Meditate or practice mindfulness activities. Meditation can help reduce stress by allowing you to “calm racing thoughts, slow a rapid heart rate, relax tensed-up muscles, and create a sense of wellbeing.”

Everyone gets stressed from time to time. It’s how we react, cope, and prevent stress that makes a true difference in our health.

References:

• American Psychological Association. How stress affects your health, https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/health
• The American Institute of Stress. Seniors and Stress, https://www.stress.org/seniors-and-stress.
• National Council on Aging. Stress and How to Reduce It: A Guide for Older Adults, https://www.ncoa.org/article/stress-and-how-to-reduce-it-a-guide-for-older-adults