Stress due to aging factor

Late life is often seen as a time of great, often uncontrollable, stress. Older people are often coping with chronic illness and disability, the loss of friends and family members, and their own impending mortality.

Psychological stress has frequently been associated with a broad spectrum of negative health outcomes. The stress response becomes problematic when the body becomes over-stressed and impacts on the capacity to cope with day to day stuff. Body response to stress is to activate the nervous system and trigger the hypothalamus to initiate greater production from the adrenal glands of two hormones adrenaline and cortisol for release into the bloodstream. These hormones speed up heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and metabolism.

Due to prolonged life expectancy, more and more adults are reaching very old age, increasing the possibility to face health-related stressors, consequently leading to higher levels of perceived stress.

Studies have found that between 27 and 48% of older adults suffer from psychological distress. Most investigations of psychological distress in older persons have found that it occurs at a higher rate in institutional settings than in private households.

The regular and oriented practice of exercise can increases the level of stress coping in elderly people, and also enhances their physical performance in everyday life activities.
Stress due to aging factor