IntelÂliÂgence comes at a price. The human species, despite its talÂent for solvÂing probÂlems, has manÂaged over the milÂlenÂnia to turn one of its most basic surÂvival mechanisms–the stress response–against itself. “EssenÂtialÂly,” says StanÂford UniÂverÂsiÂty neuÂroÂbiÂolÂoÂgist Robert SapolÂsky, “we’ve evolved to be smart enough to make ourÂselves sick.”
In the 2008 NationÂal GeoÂgraphÂic docÂuÂmenÂtary Stress: PorÂtrait of a Killer (above), SapolÂsky and felÂlow sciÂenÂtists explain the deadÂly conÂseÂquences of proÂlonged stress. “If you’re a norÂmal mamÂmal,” SapolÂsky says, “what stress is about is three minÂutes of screamÂing terÂror on the savanÂnah, after which either it’s over with or you’re over with.” DurÂing those three minÂutes of terÂror the body responds to immiÂnent danÂger by deployÂing stress horÂmones that stimÂuÂlate the heart rate and blood presÂsure while inhibitÂing othÂer funcÂtions, like digesÂtion, growth and reproÂducÂtion.
The probÂlem is, human beings tend to secrete these horÂmones conÂstantÂly in response to the presÂsures of everyÂday life. “If you turn on the stress response chronÂiÂcalÂly for pureÂly psyÂchoÂlogÂiÂcal reaÂsons,” SapolÂsky told Mark Shwartz in a 2007 interÂview for the StanÂford News SerÂvice, “you increase your risk of adult onset diaÂbetes and high blood presÂsure. If you’re chronÂiÂcalÂly shutÂting down the digesÂtive sysÂtem, there’s a bunch of gasÂtroinÂtestiÂnal disÂorÂders you’re more at risk for as well.”
ChronÂic stress has also been shown in sciÂenÂtifÂic studÂies to diminÂish brain cells needÂed for memÂoÂry and learnÂing, and to adverseÂly affect the way fat is disÂtribÂuted in the body. It has even been shown to meaÂsurÂably accelÂerÂate the aging process in chroÂmoÂsomes, a result that conÂfirms our intuÂitive sense that peoÂple who live stressÂful lives grow old faster.
By studyÂing baboon popÂuÂlaÂtions in East Africa, SapolÂsky has found that indiÂvidÂuÂals lowÂer down in the social hierÂarÂchy sufÂfer more stress, and conÂseÂquentÂly more stress-relatÂed health probÂlems, than domÂiÂnant indiÂvidÂuÂals. The same trend in human popÂuÂlaÂtions was disÂcovÂered in the British WhiteÂhall Study. PeoÂple with more conÂtrol in work enviÂronÂments have lowÂer stress, and betÂter health, than subÂorÂdiÂnates.
Stress: PorÂtrait of a Killer is a fasÂciÂnatÂing and imporÂtant documentary–well worth the 52 minÂutes it takes to watch.
RelatÂed conÂtent:
SapolÂsky Breaks Down DepresÂsion
Dopamine JackÂpot! Robert SapolÂsky on the SciÂence of PleaÂsure
BiolÂoÂgy That Makes Us Tick: Free StanÂford Course by Robert SapolÂsky
WatchÂing this makes me stressed about being stressed!
http://news.yale.edu/2012/08/12/yale-team-discovers-how-stress-and-depression-can-shrink-brain
TerÂrifÂic resource! Thanks so much for sharÂing this.
Very insightÂful…
But, I couldÂn’t help thinkÂing how peoÂple who are highÂer on the workÂplace hierÂarÂchiÂcal scale also tend to have more responÂsiÂbilÂiÂty on their shoulÂders. Do the peoÂple at the top realÂly have less stress? The stress levÂels assoÂciÂatÂed with hierÂarÂchy did not ring true for me.