Stress and Older Adults

Stress and Older Adults

Stress is an unavoidable part of life. The quickening of your heartbeat and the heightening of your senses that you experience with normal stress is just your body preparing to respond to stress. But when stress goes on for too long it can be dangerous.

For older adults, prolonged stress can come from chronic illness, disability, or the loss of a spouse. Other sources of stress may involve money, change in living situation, or family problems. These types of stressors are long term and can be more difficult to deal with. Stress causes your body to release stress hormones, which stimulate your brain and body. Over time, that type of stimulation can take a negative toll on an older person.

How stress affects older adults

Studies show that long-term stress can damage brain cells, leading to depression. Depression is one of the most dangerous effects of stress in older people:

Fatigue

Loss of memory and concentration

Inability to fight off or recover from illness

Increased risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer

Irritability or moodiness

Consuming too much alcohol

Symptoms of stress may include anxiety, sadness, trouble eating and sleeping, aches and pains, and weight loss.

Coping with stress

The first step to coping with stress is learning to recognize it. If you have suffered a loss, are struggling with an illness or disability, or are having trouble dealing with a major change in your life, know that symptoms of stress are normal and not a sign of weakness.

But prolonged sadness, anxiety, loss of interest in life, and giving up activities you once enjoyed are not a normal part of getting older. They could be signs of depression. If you are struggling to deal with stress or depression, you need to ask for help from your doctor or another member of your medical team.

Here are strategies for coping with stress:

Take care of yourself. When dealing with stress, it's important to get plenty of sleep and maintain a healthy diet. Avoid caffeine and alcohol.

Get regular exercise. Exercise releases hormones that help you fight off stress and depression. Exercise can improve your sense of well-being.

Participate in social activities. Find activities you enjoy that will give you more social interaction. You could try to learn a new language,

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