Stress Reduction

Happy people are far less likely to get sick. Many surveys of self-perceived wellness that are correlated to quality and satisfaction of life show that happy people are less selffocused, less hostile, and less abusive: all of these characteristics, for presumably a range of biological reasons, make them less vulnerable to disease. The concept of psychological stress was introduced in the 1930s by Hans Seyle, an endocrinologist. Seyle suggested that all organisms have a common biological response to negative sensory or psychological stressors. The human body can handle this response with incurring damage as long as it does not happen too often. However, when it happens all the time, its negative effect on the body tends to accumulate and interfere with the immune system. There are many different ways to reduce stress, some people find that going for a long walk or simply having a bath helps them relax, while others take up yoga or meditation.

ROLE FOR ANTI-AGING:

Stress is now recognised as a major risk factor for heart disease. Results of one study showed that men under constant stress at work are more likely to develop atherosclerosis. While results of a study published in 2002 revealed that stress can triple a heart disease patient’s risk of death. Stress has also been shown to slow wound healing and has been implicated in the development of a whole range of illnesses, including rheumatoid arthritis and stomach ulcers. Studies carried out on rats have revealed that chronic stress during early life can significantly impair memory. The study found that young rats who were injected with the stress hormone corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) had a 10-18% fewer cells in the hippocampus by the time they were 12-months old compared to rats who had not been given CRH. Thus, suggesting that chronic stress during the first weeks of life can alter brain  chemistry on a permanent basis. Meanwhile other studies have shown that adult rats placed under chronic stress suffer memory loss and are less able to learn new things. Researchers in a new field called psychoneuroimmunology are exploring the links between the immune system and feelings and thoughts. In several classic studies linking immune system response to stress, researchers found that people under psychological stress were more likely to develop a cold when injected with a respiratory virus, more likely to have heart attacks and strokes, and less likely to produce antibodies when given a flu vaccine. Therefore reducing stress can improve overall health and wellbeing, boost the immune system, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

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