Stress Linked To Metabolic Syndrome Prompts Call For Simple Stress Management Approaches

Lifestyle and genetic factors, alongside various other variables, have long been associated with metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions elevating the risk of major health issues. A recent study sheds light on stress as an additional factor contributing to metabolic syndrome, emphasising the potential benefits of accessible stress-management approaches.

The research, published in Brain, Behaviour, and Immunity, underscores stress’s propensity to increase inflammation in the body, linking it to metabolic syndrome. Researchers suggest that adopting inexpensive and straightforward stress-management techniques may offer a strategy to enhance overall biological health outcomes.

“We were specifically examining people in midlife—a time that is critical to determining those who will experience accelerated ageing. Stress is an important contributor to several negative health outcomes as we age,” stated senior author Jasmeet Hayes, associate professor of psychology at The Ohio State University.

“There are many variables that influence metabolic syndrome; some we can’t modify, but others that we can. Everybody experiences stress,” Hayes said. “And stress management is one modifiable factor that’s cost-effective as well as something people can do in their daily lives without having to get medical professionals involved,” he added.

Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when an individual presents at least three of five risk factors: excess belly fat, high blood pressure, low HDL (good) cholesterol, and high levels of fasting blood glucose and triglycerides. The study suggests that stress management, a modifiable factor, may play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of metabolic syndrome.

Using data from 648 participants (average age 52) in the Midlife in the United States national survey, researchers created a statistical model incorporating perceived stress, inflammation biomarkers, and physical exam results related to metabolic syndrome risk factors.

“Inflammation explained over half of that connection—61.5 percent, to be exact,” said first author Savana Jurgens, a psychology graduate student in Hayes’ lab.

The study provides a comprehensive perspective on the relationship between stress, inflammation, and metabolic syndrome, highlighting the importance of addressing stress for improved overall health. With approximately 1 in 3 American adults affected by metabolic syndrome, the findings underscore the significance of stress management in preventing or mitigating its impact.

“People think of stress as mental health, that it’s all psychological. It is not. There are real physical effects to having chronic stress,” Hayes said. “It could be inflammation, it could be metabolic syndrome, or a number of things. This is another reminder of that.”

(ANI)