It doesn't really matter whether the threat is real or perceived…

A threat is a threat as far as our subconscious mind is concerned.  Whether real or imagined our brain reacts in the same way to any 'threat' - by pumping stress hormones into our bloodstream.  These hormones bring about immediate changes in the body's biochemical state.  You will have experienced it - we all have - raised blood pressure, palpitations and mental reactions such as anger, fear, worry or aggression. In short, stress upsets our normal bodily balance. 

Most times these extra chemicals in our bloodstream don't get used up - for instance in fleeing for our lives or fighting off attackers.  Many times the imaginary or real threat persists over a long period.  In both cases our immune system is affected and we become more prone to mental and physical illnesses.

What stress hormones do for us…

The classic stress response - the release of adrenaline into the bloodstream - is there for a reason - to save our lives.  Raised adrenaline levels prepare your body to run away from trouble or to confront it with a superhuman effort in dangerous situations.  Adrenaline is the reason any of us has the capacity to survive in life-threatening situations. 

Adrenaline is partly responsible for any great sporting achievment or supreme test of endurance.  It's the reason people survive fires, bombs, floods, wars and any other truly life-threatening situation.  It pulls ordinary mortals through the really difficult times. 

And how they cause us problems... 

Unfortunately, when the stress response is applied by the body to less dangerous threats - some of life's ordinary stressful situations - we use up huge amounts of physical energy out of all proportion to the threat we face.

Think about a situation which caused you acute anxiety recently - a job interview, standing up in public to say a few words, confronting a personal difficulty with a freind or colleague, an argument at home.  You probably felt your heart thumping, your brain racing, your blood pressure increase and every sense in your body on high alert. When the situation was over no doubt you felt exhausted - physically and mentally drained. That is the toll the stress response takes on your body.  Worth it if it saved your life - a problem if it wasn't really necessary.

It can happen to anybody from a high profile business executive to a student, or a home-maker.  We are all are burning out our energies to defend ourselves from real or perceived causes of stress. 

So what effect does this have on aging?

You probably won't be surprised to learn that stress accelerates the aging process. 

Eternally youthful celebrities like Andie Macdowell and Meryl Streep realize that managing stress levels is key to looking younger for longer  and take action to reduce stress in their everyday lives - with good reason.

When we suffer stress we lose our bodies natural balance  which causes damage to hormone secretion, cell repair and collagen production.  Worry, anxiety and stress really do etch themselves on our faces.  More worryingly perhaps recent research suggests that when the body is exposed over a long period of time to stress hormones this can speed up brain aging too

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