- Short bursts of stress can help people stay young, according
to research which undermines the belief that a frenzied lifestyle can damage
your health.
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- Such exposure to stress will prolong life and help prevent
chronic illnesses such as arthritis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease,
Dr Marios Kyriazis told an anti-ageing conference in London.
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- He recommended that, rather than avoiding stress, people
should subject themselves to mild doses of frantic activity, which might
include packing a suitcase in a hurry before catching a flight, or shopping
for a dinner party during the time limit of a lunch break.
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- Dr Kyriazis, the medical director of the British Longevity
Society, argued that moderate stress increased the production of proteins
that help to repair the body's cells, including brain cells, enabling them
to work at peak capacity.
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- "Research shows that cells subjected to stress repair
themselves, allowing us to live longer," he said.
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- "As the body ages, this self-repair mechanism starts
to slow down.
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- "The best way to keep the process working efficiently
is to 'exercise it', in the same way that you would exercise your muscles
to keep them strong."
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- Other stressful activities he recommended included giving
a best man's speech, following the instruction manual for a new DVD recorder,
volunteering to help at a youth club and redecorating a room over a weekend.
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- However, Dr Kyriazis insisted that long-term stress should
be avoided.
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- He said that prolonged stressful experiences, which could
include caring for an elderly relative, were bad for health.
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- © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2005.
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- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?.html
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