Stress and AgingFor the past half-century, doctors have been warning that stress shortens lifespan and leads to a variety of diseases and infirmities. Now a doctor specializing in aging tells us that stress, in moderation, is good for us and will extend our lives. These seemingly diametrically opposed views are not so far apart as they seem at first glance. The key, apparently, is in the nature and duration of the stress. A hectic lifestyle that keeps one constantly stressed is as harmful as doctors have been telling us. But no stress at all is not a healthy situation either -- occasional short term stress is strengthening. Dr Marios Kyriazis, medical director of the British Longevity Society and a private anti-ageing doctor, told the London conference that his patients look and feel younger after he has set them a series of stressful tasks. Kyriazis prescribes mild doses of frantic activity to his patients such as redecorating their front room over a weekend or packing in a hurry to reach the airport on time. Since stress is harmful to the body, nature's own defenses go to work under stress and repair the damage -- leaving the body stronger than before the stressful situation. Dr. Kyriazis identified proteins that help repair stress-damaged cells, and sees those proteins increase beyond what is needed to repair the actual damage. They go on to help strengthen the cells and remove harmful chemicals that tend to build up in the absence of the stress-generated proteins. If we are constantly under stress, this system gets overloaded, and the proteins can not even keep up with the damage, let alone go on to exert other beneficial effects. Life teaches us all things in moderation, and it would appear that applies to stress too! |
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