Physiology
What Are the Impacts of Stress on the Body and Mind? Stress can affect nearly every system in the body, from your heart and immune system to your digestion, muscles and mental health. While short-term stress is a normal response to everyday challenges, chronic stress can contribute to health problems when the body remains in a heightened state for too long. Our stress response, commonly referred to as the “fight-or-flight” reaction, can be triggered by everyday challenges such as work pressures, financial worries, traffic congestion and family obligations. But how do these stressors affect our bodies and mental health? In this article, we’ll look at three types of stress and examine how prolonged exposure to stress can impact you mentally and physically. What does stress do to the body?Stress triggers the release of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which prepares the body to respond to a perceived threat. In the short term, this can increase heart rate, breathing and muscle tension. When stress becomes chronic, those responses can contribute to longer-term physical and mental health problems. Types of Stress There are three main types of stress that a person experiences: Acute stress This is short-term stress that everyone faces from time to time
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Aging
The Psychology of Nostalgia: Why We Long for the Past Picture this: You’re driving to work when an old favorite song suddenly plays on the radio. Immediately, you’re transported back to a moment in time: making dinner with your mom, belting out the lyrics while wielding a soup ladle as a microphone. As you return to the present, warm and fuzzy feelings associated with that memory wash over you. Welcome to nostalgia, the bittersweet feeling that can make a song, smell or photograph transport you straight into the past. Psychologists have found that nostalgia can reinforce our sense of identity, strengthen social connection and even help us cope during periods of change. So why does nostalgia feel so powerful? Let’s look at what triggers it, how it affects the brain and why the experience changes throughout our lives. What Is Nostalgia and Why Do We Experience It? Ever wondered, “What does nostalgia mean?” You’re not the first. Nostalgia, a term coined in the late 17th century, originates from the Greek words nostos (meaning "return") and algos (meaning "pain")
Aging
Why Do We Age? The Science Behind the Aging Process One minute, you’re scrolling through your phone looking for that infamous cake-in-the-hair photo from your kid’s first birthday. The next thing you know, you’re eight years deep in your camera roll wondering where the time went — and maybe noticing a few extra fine lines or gray hairs that weren’t there when all those pictures were taken. Aging happens to all of us, but the process is a lot more complicated than adding another candle to the birthday cake. Changes are happening throughout the body over time, influenced by everything from our genes to the environments we live in. So, why do we age? Let’s look at what science can tell us about the aging process and some of the factors that influence how our bodies change over time. What Causes the Aging Process? There isn’t one single cause of aging. Instead, aging happens as damage gradually builds up in our cells, tissues and organs over time. The body may become less efficient at repairing damage and maintaining the same level of function it did when we were younger. Genetics play a role in this process, but they’re only part of the story
Aging
The 3 Most Common Age-Related Diseases (and How to Help Prevent Them) Heart disease, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease are among the most common age-related diseases in the United States. While aging increases the risk of developing certain conditions, lifestyle choices and preventive care can play a significant role in lowering that risk. While hitting 10,000 steps a day won’t guarantee perfect heart health, everyday choices — like regular movement, balanced nutrition and quality sleep — can meaningfully influence long-term wellness. Below, we examine three common age-related diseases, why risk increases with age and steps that may help lower your risk. #1 Heart Disease The name alone may not sound too intimidating, but heart disease is the number one cause of death for people in the United States. In fact, it’s so common that one person dies from cardiovascular disease every 33 seconds. So, what is this silent but deadly killer that’s responsible for approximately 20% of the deaths in the United States? What Is Heart Disease? Otherwise known as cardiovascular disease, heart disease comes in many types that can affect people of all ages, and the risk of developing one of them only increases as you age. Some of the most common types include: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) CAD occurs when the major vessels supplying blood to the heart have difficulty sending it enough blood and oxygen. Cholesterol deposits are usually the main cause of CAD, and the condition generally develops over several decades. Heart Attack When CAD goes undiagnosed, individuals may not know they have it until the blockages cause a heart attack, which happens when the blood flow to the heart becomes severely blocked. How to Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease While there’s no guarantee that you can be completely safe against cardiovascular disease, there are a few preventative measures you can take to lower your risk: Don’t Use Tobacco While this may seem obvious, there are approximately 28 million American adults who currently smoke cigarettes. Cigarette smoke lowers the amount of oxygen in your blood, increasing your blood pressure and heart rate
