Dubai: It is well known that lifestyle and genetics play a role in the development of metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other health problems. But new research has revealed another cause: stress. The tendency of stress to make the body inflamed has also been found to contribute to metabolic syndrome, suggesting that affordable stress management techniques can be a powerful tool to improve health. I am.
When and how?
“We focused on midlife, a critical period that determines who experiences accelerated aging,” said lead author Jasmeet, an associate professor of psychology at The Ohio State University.・Hayes explains. “Stress negatively impacts health as we age, but stress management is one modifiable factor that everyone can incorporate into their daily lives without the need for medical intervention.”
The study, published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity – Health, delves into the previously understudied role of inflammation in the relationship between stress and metabolic syndrome. People with metabolic syndrome have at least three of five risk factors for heart disease, diabetes, and other problems, including excess abdominal fat, high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, high fasting blood sugar, and high triglycerides.
Lead author Savannah Jurgens, a psychology graduate student in Hayes' lab, used data from 648 participants in the Midlife in America study to show that inflammation is a link between stress and metabolic syndrome. We built a statistical model to evaluate how to close the gap. The analysis took into account respondents' reported stress levels, inflammatory blood biomarkers, and physical test results indicating risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
“All these pieces rarely come together.”
“Very few studies have looked at all three variables at the same time,” Jurgens points out. “Research suggests links between stress and inflammation, inflammation and metabolic syndrome, and stress and metabolic syndrome, but all these factors rarely come together.”
This model includes an inflammation composite score based on well-known biomarkers such as IL-6 and C-reactive protein, as well as E-selectin, ICAM-1 (both involved in leukocyte recruitment during inflammation), and fibrinogen. (important for blood clots). formation).
This analysis revealed a clear association between stress and metabolic syndrome, with inflammation explaining a whopping 61.5% of this association.
“Perceived stress has no direct effect on metabolic syndrome, but inflammation plays a large role,” Jurgens explains.
These findings make sense because stress is just one of many factors that can disrupt health markers. Lack of exercise, unhealthy diet, smoking, lack of sleep, low socio-economic status, older age, and being female are also contributing factors.
However, with an estimated one in three American adults having metabolic syndrome, it is important to understand how to manage or prevent metabolic syndrome. This study adds to the growing body of evidence highlighting the significant impact the relationship between stress and inflammation has on overall health.
“While stress is often seen only as a mental health issue, its effects are far-reaching and include real physical effects such as inflammation and metabolic syndrome,” Hayes emphasizes. “This study is another reminder of the powerful impact stress has on our physical health.”
