You may be stressed about getting older, but unfortunately that will only speed up the process. There are only five places in the world where people regularly live to be 100, and one of them is in Costa Rica. Beyond genetics, lifestyle choices can greatly determine longevity. Researchers at the US National Institute on Aging have stated that people in the “blue zone”, where life expectancy is the highest, less stress and socialize more than the average person.
When you look at the effect stress has on the body as you age, it becomes clear that a sedentary lifestyle is the key to longevity.
{5 Surefire Ways to Reduce Stress Levels}
Lowering your stress level doesn’t take a lot of time or energy. Doing these five activities regularly is all it takes to get rid of most of your stress.
Massage
Getting a massage is not a luxury. It’s a great way to relieve stress instantly, relax muscles, and reduce pain without drugs. With new products such as electric lift massage tableeven adult patients with mobility problems can avail this service.
Meditation
Meditation can mean many different things. Chanting, breathing exercises, visualizing and praying are all different forms of meditation. One thing they all have in common is that the process is meant to relax you and put you in a positive state of mind.
Exercise
The US National Institute on Aging report also found that being physically active was another common trait among people who aged well and lived longer. Staying physically active is a healthy lifestyle choice that reduces stress and can help slows down the aging process in the brain.
Read
Study from the University of Sussex have found that reading is one of the best relaxation. Immersed in a story or article can relax you faster than listening to music or going for a walk.
Volunteer
Researcher Dan Buettner studied blue zone found that people with goals lived longer, lived happier lives. Volunteering also increases your social interactions, which is another characteristic of a healthy, stress-free person.
{5 Ways Stress Affects Your Body As You Aging}
From your brain to your skin, stress affects almost every part of your body. Here are 5 ways stress can seriously impact your health as you age.
Inflammation
Stress can cause inflammation in the body, and chronic inflammation has been linked to a number of health problems. Doctors have known for years that stress increases a person’s chances of developing a number of diseases, but they weren’t sure why. Now research has shown that inflammation is in the link. A study from Carnegie Mellon University found that chronic psychological stress inhibits the regulation of inflammatory response systems.
Accelerated Cell Aging
Stress affects you down to the cellular level. A learn from UC San Francisco found that just thinking about stressful activities was enough to accelerate cell aging. Another study found that work-related stress can negatively impact cell DNA. Stress can shorten what are known as telomeres in DNA. This naturally shortens as we age, but stress can speed up the process, leading to cell damage.
Affects Brain Health
More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s Disease. Research has found that Chronic stress is a contributing factor in disease development. UC Berkley researchers also found that the process of gene activation and deactivation was accelerated in women who had higher levels of stress. They believe this is one of the factors that explains why women are more susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease.
Turn Off Your Feelings
As we get older, vision and hearing may become less sharp, but stress can exacerbate both senses. When you are stressed, the body releases adrenaline. This hormone constricts blood vessels, which can cause temporary vision and hearing loss.
Increasing Unhealthy Lifestyle Choices
When you are stressed, you tend to turn to alcohol, drugs and other ways to deal with stress. Doctors have also found that people who experience chronic stress are less likely to exercise and eat healthily. All of these lifestyle choices have a significant impact on your overall health as you age.
The moral of the story is to live like a Costa Rican – enjoy the world around you and let the stress slip away.
