Stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. A natural human response prompts an individual to address challenges and threats. Stress is an unavoidable part of our day-to-day life, just like the phenomenon of ageing. During younger years, an individual handles stressful situations much easier than when he is older, when his body’s natural defences gradually begin to break, making it more difficult to cope with stress and anxiety.
When physically or emotionally stressed, our bodies release stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Though these hormones can help provide short-term energy and focus so that we can appropriately respond to stressful situations, chronic stress of long duration can lead to an overload of stress hormones, resulting in harmful imbalances in the body.

Over time, the brain loses its ability to regulate stress hormone levels, leading to hormonal imbalances in the body and increased stress levels in older adults. An individual under chronic stress is more prone to make unhealthy lifestyle choices, paving the way to additional health issues. In short, stress accelerates ageing, and ageing causes stress. It’s a vicious circle.
How it affects DNA
Stress also affects the body on a cellular level. The telomeres, the protective “ caps” on the end of DNA chromosomes, are broken down at an accelerated pace when the body is under stress. When telomeres become too short, the cells are no longer protected. Shortened telomeres are linked to Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. 

Also, long-term stress can lead to oxidative stress, which is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) and the body’s ability to repair the damages caused by these ROS. Oxidative stress can damage cells, proteins, and DNA, leading to premature ageing. Stress also increases gastric acid secretions, leading to indigestion and peptic ulcers.
The psychological effects of stress include depression, anxiety, and social isolation. It leads to cellular senescence, which causes functional alterations in the body and is also associated with cancers and cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders. It is again associated with whole-body ageing, but chronic stress accelerates its occurrence early in life.

Managing stress levels 
It’s proven that reducing stress levels can improve an individual‘s overall health and vice versa: improving one’s health can also reduce stress levels.
Some important tips for managing stress 
1) A healthy social life can boost self-esteem, quality of life, and overall health. Loneliness and isolation are linked to a variety of physical and mental health conditions, so stay connected to your loved ones.
2) Physical activity—A quick 30-minute walk or yoga session daily can be a relaxing mood booster, so stay physically active.
3) Exercise for mind- keep your mind sharp with mentally stimulating activities such as reading, puzzles and games with loved ones.
4) Avoidance of stressful situations whenever possible.
5) Seeking professional mental help in the form of counselling or even prescription medications to manage chronic stress. 

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Additional stress-busting techniques 
1. Mindfulness practices-( meditation, deep breathing)
2. Relaxation techniques ( progressive muscle relaxation)
3. Effective time management 
4. Healthy sleep habits 
5. Balanced nutrition 
By understanding the stress-aging connection and implementing these strategies, one can
1) Mitigate the negative effects of stress
2) Promote healthy ageing
3) Enhance overall well-being

Disclaimer:

When physically or emotionally stressed, our bodies release stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.

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