The Effects of Stress on Older Adults and Tips to Help Them Cope
Despite their years of life experience, older adults are not immune to stress. Several factors contribute to the stress an older adult faces, including isolation, living on a fixed income, experiencing physical and cognitive decline, confronting significant loss, and loss of independence.
Stress affects older adults differently than it does their younger counterparts. Although they may have had more opportunities to build resiliency, aging changes how they physically respond to stress. April is National Stress Awareness Month. Here are four effects of stress on older adults and a few tips to help them cope.
Heart Disease
Stress causes the body to release hormones that elevate your heartbeat and breathing. It raises blood pressure and cholesterol levels, putting older adults at risk for heart attack or stroke. Sudden, intense stress can cause instant heart attacks in older adults. Chronic stress that’s not managed in healthy ways can cause permanent damage to the heart.
Anxious Stomach
Stomach problems are one of the most common effects of stress. Hormones released as a result of stress also enter the digestive tract, interfering with digestion. These hormones decrease antibody production and have a negative effect on the gut. Older adults experience a decline in their stomach lining due to age. This puts them at a greater risk for experiencing symptoms of an anxious stomach, such as heartburn, constipation, and diarrhea, due to stress.
Weight Gain
Chronic stress has been linked with weight gain. Again, the hormones released during a stressful event, mainly cortisol, increases sugars in the bloodstream. High levels of cortisol can increase appetite and trigger the person to reach for “comfort foods.” Stress also changes the way the body metabolizes carbs, fat, and protein and can result in the body storing fat around the belly. Both result in weight gain.
Poor Sleep
Stress only contributes to sleep problems in older adults. It impacts both sleep duration and quality. Chronic stress causes the nervous system to maintain a heightened state of arousal for long periods of time. This makes it difficult for an older adult to fall asleep and stay asleep. The cycle continues, as poor sleep contributes to higher levels of stress.
Tips to Help Older Adults Cope with Stress
Although stress cannot be avoided, the following lifestyle changes can help older adults reduce and cope with stress.
- Exercise Daily — Exercise releases endorphins, or those “feel-good” hormones that can boost your mood and improve your mental health and well-being.
- Practice Meditation — Meditation is a relaxation technique that aims to keep you in the present moment. If stress is keeping you up at night, find a guided meditation that can gently ease you into a state of deep relaxation.
- Eat a Healthy Diet — If you’re prone to stress-eating, keep your pantry stocked with healthy snack options that you can reach for, instead of overindulging in sweets.
- Reduce Caffeine Consumption — Caffeine is a natural stimulant and can elevate blood pressure, heartbeat, and breathing. It can also disrupt sleep. If you’re feeling stressed, reach for a cup of decaffeinated tea, instead of your usual cup of coffee.
Another tip to help older adults cope with stress is to partner with Visiting Angels of Santa Clarita. Our trained, compassionate caregivers dedicate themselves to helping local seniors live comfortably and safely at home. You don’t need to be stressed about receiving non-medical care provided by our office. We understand that your schedule brings you comfort and peace of mind. We won’t ask you to change your schedule to meet our needs. We always work on your schedule, when you need us. You can find top quality senior care services at Visiting Angels of Santa Clarita. Please contact us today by calling 661-263-2273 to learn more about our senior care services.