Stress has no mercy. It leads to faster wear of the organs

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Stress is not kind to us. Not only does it affect the general mood, it reduces the joy of life, it can lead to insomnia, it worsens our concentration, but it also adds years to us. Organs subjected to long-term stress wear out faster. But it is very much up to us how quickly it happens. Because this process can be effectively slowed down.

1. All organs finally begin to feel the effects of prolonged stress
2. The “wagon of destruction” affects virtually all systems, and we are starting to feel worse and worse
3. Sylwia Kuźniarz-Rymarz, an endocrinologist, advises what to do to prevent this process
4.  ARTICLE FROM MAGAZINE: NEWSWEEK ZDROWIE & MEDONET 3/2021
5. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

Short-term stress associated with certain events does not affect the body as negatively as the less anxiety that is felt each day. The nervousness associated with everyday life is a true silent destroyer that insidiously weakens our body. And it adds years to him, regardless of the birth certificate. In order to preserve youth and health for longer, it is best to start with stopping this insidious process in which most of us live every day.

– During chronic stress, hormones are released into the body, which are normally designed to stimulate and provide strength. They are not bad in themselves. However, it is pathological when their high levels persist for too long. The balance is then upset. As a result, all organs slowly begin to feel the effects of chronic stimulation with hormones – cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine, as well as prolactin. And this, in turn, leads to their faster aging and various health ailments – explains the endocrinologist Sylwia Kużniarz-Rymarz from the Sublimed clinic in Krakow.

The rest of the text is below the video.

All roads lead to the heart

The main effector of adrenaline and norepinephrine is the cardiovascular system. In fact, this system is the most important, because looking at the most common causes of death today, we largely die from cardiovascular diseases – heart attacks or strokes. – The action of these hormones causes the blood vessels to constrict which, in combination with the increased heart rate caused by adrenaline, increases the blood pressure. And this often goes undiagnosed for a long time, because headaches are underestimated and blamed on fatigue and overwork – explains the doctor.

1. See also: Disturbing research results: stress can damage the heart

Prolactin affects female fertility. When its secretion is influenced by chronic stress, menstrual disorders, anovulatory cycles, and then the problem with too much male hormones in the body appear.

Cortisol produced by the cortex of the adrenal gland is called the stress hormone. In a properly functioning organism, it has, inter alia, influence on the proper circadian rhythm. In the morning, its level is at its highest, helping us wake up. In the evening it lowers, allowing you to fall asleep peacefully. However, due to prolonged stress, this pattern can be disturbed. This, in turn, leads to insomnia, a lack of physiological pressure drop and the body becomes quiet at night. Also for other ailments.

– The visible effect of cortisol is the effect on the level of glucose and lipids, as well as the accumulation of adipose tissue, which also contributes to the development of carbohydrate disorders, and ultimately diabetes. Due to the fact that it is involved in lipid metabolism, it will accelerate the development of atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease. Due to the fact that cortisol physiologically affects the distribution of adipose tissue and the deposition of fat in the abdominal area, abdominal obesity will also be a consequence. And we go back to the starting point – atherosclerosis, ischemic disease, diabetes – all diseases of civilization – explains the endocrinologist.

There are also digestive problems, heartburn, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines. A whole wide spectrum of difficulties that hinder and also simply shorten life. The body must use the resources at its disposal, and these are limited. This is not a bottomless well.

– Oxidative stress causes cell damage and changes to DNA, which leads to the aging process taking place faster. Free radicals, toxins that are produced – it all makes us old. A person subjected to such stress falls into a vicious circle – we start harming ourselves because we are focused on the factor that causes stress and we do not pay attention to ourselves. So we do not take any steps to help our body, but we continue to do so, says the expert.

Stop the destruction wagon

We already know that long-term stress is definitely something that should be avoided. Especially when you are a woman after your 40th birthday, when your body is less resistant to diseases and ailments. This is the perfect time to give yourself a gift and finally relax a bit. A gift for the spirit, but also for the body. Where to start? Preferably an examination of conscience. Answer yourself the question: how do I live, do I want to live like this and what can I do to jump out of this “hamster wheel” full of responsibilities, difficulties and anxieties that can often be eliminated relatively easily?

– It is known that there are situations beyond our control, but the question of our attitude is how we will perceive them. Often it is also necessary to work through something with a therapist, because it is impossible to get over the agenda with a severe, incurable disease, but you can look at it differently, open up to sources of outside help, pay attention to how I live, how I eat or do I play sports or have a pet – find a springboard and reevaluate my life wondering if certain things are worth it or not. It is known that it is difficult to change your profession and job, but you can change your attitude towards it. So I would look for such changes in the sphere of action, in the emotional willingness to change – the expert advises.

An important positive change that you can make in your daily life to free yourself from the vicious cycle of chronic stress is also a change in your diet. The important thing is to eat, not eat. Do not lose yourself in various duties, instead of eating a meal in peace, taking appropriate amounts of antioxidants – fruits and vegetables. They are natural remedies and an antidote to the free radicals we produce.

The endocrinologist also recommends that you just slow down, stop looking for other forms of action, as if you can’t stand idleness and rest. It’s not like you have to rush somewhere all the time. On the contrary – after 40 years of age the slow life spirit is more important than ever. And the life situation definitely makes it easier to jump on this calmer track, because children are usually raised already. The race is over.

– You have to learn to be good to yourself and listen to your body what it says to us – explains Sylwia Kuźniarz-Rymarz. – And treat the doctor not as an enemy, but as a partner and examine yourself. If a doctor recommends breast ultrasound and cytology, it is not because it is malignant, but because it wants to protect us from the most common diseases that lead to death, i.e. breast cancer and cervical cancer. Prophylaxis and pro-health behavior must at some point find a place in our calendar. Many of the diseases that we detect at the beginning or prevent them from developing will not disturb our health, or they will be cured and we will continue to live.

There are still many springs ahead of us

Man is programmed to live 100 years. In practice, the average is 80 springs, so the 40th birthday is the halfway point. All the other half still remain to be lived. And it can be done right. Better than before. Fortunately, more and more women are finding this is a good idea. They begin to realize that youth does not last forever, so to be as long as possible, they need to take care of themselves.

How? There are many ways. First of all, it is prophylaxis and a calmer life, and secondly, it is all the things that make you happy and give you a break. Yoga, walks, meditation or mindfulness techniques. Or courses, such as pottery or cooking. Or painting workshops combined with the consumption of good-quality red wine. Because after “40” there comes a time when life is worth living in the best possible way. No rush, no eternal mortification. It’s time to take special care of yourself and pamper yourself at every step. Because the next decades are ahead of us and it is worth living them in health and well-being. And necessarily without chronic stress.

– Biology speaks for itself – the period of growth of the organism has long ended, a large proportion of women have had children, so they have had the procreative period behind them. We are closer than farther to menopause, and our sex hormones also begin to release less. So we are moving towards old age in small steps. And it can be a good, quiet old age. The future is in our hands.

Also read:

1. When the heart fails, warning signs appear on the skin
2. Take a look at your skin. You will see the first symptoms of the disease on it
3. What to eat to age more slowly? Seven featured products

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