Health
oi-Amritha K
The
fact
is,
we
all
experience
stress
from
time
to
time,
it's
almost
a
part
of
our
daily
lives,
even
when
we
know
how
detrimental
it
can
be
to
our
mental,
emotional,
and
physical
health.
But,
we
just
can't
seem
to
help
it,
right?
Stress
can
accelerate
the
ageing
process.
Don't
believe
me?
Well,
it
has
been
proven
by
a
number
of
researchers.
Stress
has
been
shown
to
increase
biological
age
in
people,
according
to
a
recent
study
[1].
Now,
you
may
think
what
is
biological
age?
Well,
let's
take
a
look.
Table of Contents
What
Is
Your
Biological
Age?
Biological
age
is
a
term
used
to
describe
how
old
someone
is
based
on
the
physical
characteristics
or
functions
of
the
body,
in
contrast
to
chronological
age,
which
is
measured
by
the
amount
of
time
that
has
elapsed
since
a
person
was
born.
For
instance,
a
person's
biological
age
can
be
determined
by
measuring
their
cardiovascular
fitness,
bone
density,
or
levels
of
inflammation,
points
out
studies.
Is
biological
age
different
that
the
'normal'
age?
The
normal
age
can
be
termed
chronological
age.
There
may
be
a
difference
between
your
chronological
and
biological
ages.
Chronological
age
refers
to
the
number
of
years
you
have
lived.
However,
a
2019
study,
Chronological
age,
social
age
and
biological
age,
has
shown
that
biological
age
is
a
more
accurate
predictor
of
the
onset
of
disease
and
death
than
chronological
age.
Now,
let's
check
how
your
biological
age
is
affected
by
stress.
How
Does
Stress
Increase
Your
Biological
Age?
A
study
of
severe
stress
suggests
that
it
increases
life
expectancy
by
increasing
biological
age.
There
is
a
fight
or
flight
reaction
in
the
body
and
mind
when
we
are
faced
with
a
stressful
situation,
whether
real
or
perceived.
When
the
brain
sends
signals
to
the
body,
it
prepares
itself
to
either
fight
or
flee
from
the
threat.
Some
physiological
reactions
include
increased
heart
rate
and
blood
pressure,
quickened
breathing,
etc.
The
body
produces
cortisol
to
facilitate
extended
alertness
in
response
to
threats,
all
of
which
affect
your
biological
ageing
process.
The
presence
of
high
levels
of
cortisol
over
a
prolonged
period
of
time
can
result
in
increased
appetite,
fat
tissue
accumulation,
high
blood
pressure,
heart
and
lung
strain,
insomnia,
anxiety,
and
muscle
tension.
It
can
all
have
a
detrimental
effect
on
your
health
and
well-being,
as
well
as
taking
time
away
from
your
daily
activities.
How
To
Reverse
Biological
Age?
Most
of
us
wish
we
could
turn
back
the
clock,
and
although
there
is
no
miracle
cure
for
reversing
biological
age,
there
are
steps
you
can
take
to
help
slow
down
the
ageing
process.
Here
are
a
few
tips
to
help
you
reverse
biological
ageing:
Manage
stress:
This
is
one
of
the
most
important
steps
in
reversing
biological
ageing.
Stress
is
one
of
the
top
factors
that
can
cause
premature
ageing.
Take
steps
to
reduce
stress
levels,
such
as
practising
relaxation
techniques,
like
deep
breathing,
meditation,
and
yoga
[2].
The
other
tips
that
help
reverse
biological
age
are
as
follows:
-
Exercise
regularly -
Eat
anti-ageing
foods
with
antioxidants -
Get
enough
sleep -
Stay
hydrated -
Protect
your
skin
On
A
Final
Note...
Stress
is
a
powerful
force
that
affects
people
of
all
ages,
backgrounds,
and
walks
of
life.
Taking
steps
to
manage
stress
can
help
improve
physical
and
mental
health
and
enhance
overall
well-being.
