Does Stress Cause Grey Hair? The Link Between Stress and Aging
According to recent census data, over 20% of Clinton, Iowa's population is 65 or older. It's not unusual to encounter a grey head of hair here, but is that because of our robust senior population?
Age isn't the only factor that can contribute to greying. Like most physical changes, you can expect genetics to play a role.
What about lifestyle? Does stress cause grey hair? The short answer is yes, but that's not all you need to know.
Read on as we discuss the effects of stress on aging, particularly when it comes to your hair health, and stick around for tips to better manage your stress.
Does Stress Cause Grey Hair? What the Research Shows
Chances are good that the link between stress and grey hair isn't a foreign concept to you. Many of us are told by our mothers when we're young that our bad behavior will give them grey hair. You may even know someone who connects their first strands of grey hair to a stressful time in their life.
Does stress cause grey hair? According to research reported on by Harvard Health, high stress can, in fact, turn your hair grey. How does this work?
Believe it or not, you have sympathetic nerves in your hair follicles, and like the rest of your sympathetic nervous system, they play a role in the fight-or-flight response. In this case, they release a chemical called norepinephrine.
When norepinephrine is released from the hair follicle, it triggers an excessive response from pigment-producing stem cells. In other words, it causes a quick depletion of the pigment that creates your natural hair color.
Once that pigment is drained, there's no bringing it back. Effected hair follicles are permanently zapped of color, and any hair that grows from them will be grey or white.
Additional Stress-Related Aging Signs
According to research compiled by AARP, grey hair isn't the only impact stress can have on your body as you age. Let's take a look at some of the additional consequences of letting stress rule your life.
Reduced Immune Capacity
In periods of high stress, your body gets flooded with the stress hormone cortisol. When you're living with high levels of cortisol in the body for weeks on end as a senior, your immune system can take a significant hit. Given that many seniors are already living with a reduced immune response due to pre-existing conditions, chronic stress can leave you quite susceptible to viruses and infections.
Increased Inflammation
Postural changes and decreased mobility can contribute to the signs of aging just as much as grey hair and wrinkles. The AARP report linked above also references research that found a connection between chronic stress and increased inflammation. Inflammation can increase pain sensations and lead to a higher risk of injuries, both of which can change the way you hold your body.
Poor Sleep Quality
It's no secret that stress can lead to nagging or racing thoughts. For many people, stress is a major sleep disruptor because it becomes difficult to quiet those thoughts when you lay down to sleep at night. Without quality sleep, you may notice signs of aging, like bags under your eyes or reduced elasticity in the skin.
Accelerated Health Disorder Risk
Reduced immune capacity and increased inflammation are just a few of the ways that stress can put you more at risk of developing age-associated health problems. Research referenced in the AARP report also found that chronic stress was linked to higher blood pressure. As a result, stress can accelerate your increased risk of health disorders like stroke and heart attacks.
Prioritizing Wellness and Self-Care as a Senior
If there's one thing we've learned here, it's that looking and feeling your best begins on the inside. Here are a few tips for managing stress naturally as a Clinton, Iowa, senior.
Address Your Stress
Ignoring or avoiding the source of your stress won't make you feel less stressed. Instead, it will probably prolong the experience of living with anxiety.
Do your best to address stressors as they arise, asking for help when needed. For example, transitioning to assisted living in Clinton, Iowa can reduce the stress caused by limited mobility or trouble with activities of daily living.
Embrace Community
Living in isolation can lead to chronic stress in a number of ways. You may feel like you have no one to turn to for help. You may find yourself ruminating on the negative instead of experiencing the positive.
Open yourself up to community experiences and connect with the people around you. Talk often with loved ones in person and on the phone. A pleasant conversation can brighten your day, while a fun experience can give you a whole new perspective.
Eat Well and Hydrate
What if you could tackle stress and hair health for seniors with one lifestyle change? Your diet and hydration levels can do exactly that.
Enjoying chef-prepared meals in Addington Place of Clinton is a great way to add important nutrients back into your diet and give your body the support it needs to stay younger longer.
Practice Mindfulness
Building a community and altering your diet isn't always something seniors can do quickly. Fortunately, there are small changes you can make right away that could reduce your stress.
Simply put, mindfulness is the practice of staying present rather than getting lost in (often stressful) thoughts. Meditation can increase your mindfulness, but so can enjoyable hobbies like reading, doing puzzles, or gardening. Incorporating as little as ten minutes of mindfulness into your daily routine may reduce your overall stress.
Embrace Holistic Wellness at Addington Place of Clinton
Does stress cause grey hair? Stress not only contributes to grey hair, but it can also take a toll on your overall health. It's time to build stress relief into your retirement plan.
At Addington Place of Clinton, we provide on-site amenities that can reduce senior stress levels immensely. From assistance with activities of daily living to chef-prepared meals to robust activities, we go above and beyond to create holistic wellness for our residents. Contact us today to learn more.