New research suggests that the chronic stress of feeling anxious and isolated throughout the COVID pandemic may well have accelerated the ageing speed of millions of Britons.
How chronic stress can manifest itself
One of the ways we can detect signs of ageing is through the health of our skin. One study found that chronic stress can have negative effects on skin ageing and can even cause wrinkles to form. That’s because stress causes inflammation and impairs the body’s ability to repair itself.
Other signs and symptoms of chronic stress include:
- Insomnia and increased fatigue
- Muscle fatigue, aches and pains
- Compromised immune system which leads to increased risk of illness
- Loss of sex drive
- Mood swings and irritability
Chronic stress, telomeres and ageing
Research suggests chronic stress damages our very cells. A number of studies have linked stress with shorter telomeres, a chromosome component that’s been associated with cellular ageing and risk for chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
What are telomeres?
Telomeres are a protective casing at the end of a strand of DNA. Each time one of our cells divides, it loses a bit of its telomeres. We’re able to replenish it through an enzyme called telomerase however chronic stress and the increased cortisol that is a by-product of chronic stress decreases our supply.
How are telomeres related to ageing?
If a telomere isn’t replenished and becomes too depreciated, the cell associated with that telomere can die or become pro-inflammatory. This sets the ageing process in motion, along with associated health risks.
How does stress affect telomere length?
The two main things that affect our telomere length are chronological ageing and genetics; however stress also plays a huge role in shortening telomeres. The longer we experience stress, the more likely we are to maintain short telomeres throughout our life which is why chronic stress can be so damaging on a cellular level.
When we expose our bodies to years of chronic stress, we see effects that override normal ageing, making our telomeres look like they are from a significantly older person.
Can we reverse the effects of stress ageing?
The good news is that we can protect ourselves from further damage and can halt the effects of ageing. And it’s all down to a specific coenzyme.
NAD+ IV therapy
Increasing NAD+ levels through IV therapy is associated with an increase in sirtuin activity which helps to stabilise telomeres, reduces DNA damage, and improves telomere-dependent disease to improve overall cell function and to stop the ageing process.
At NADclinic we offer a DNA test to measure your telomere length and to see how well your cells are functioning from a mitochondrial perspective. This will tell us your biological age and see if you’re ageing faster than you should be. We can then offer appropriate IV therapy therapies based on your results.
NAD+ IV infusion therapy can not only tackle the effects of stress and ageing on the body at the root cause, the cells, but can also help relieve some of the symptoms associated with chronic stress. These include:
- Brighter, more youthful skin
- Boosted energy and improved sleep
- Increased immunity
- A happier more stable mood with less bouts of anxiety and stress
Contact the clinic to find out more about how NAD+ IV infusion therapy can help you fight chronic stress and reverse the signs of ageing.
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