Answer to Question 1
In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research team found that chronic stress seems to accelerate the aging process by shortening the life span of cells and opening the door to disease. The cells of people under high stress aged the equivalent of 9-17 years more than the cells of people under little stress.
The link between stress and premature aging has major implications for health. The specific cellular changes identified in this study could become a warning sign to help doctors prescribe life-extending therapies. That means that people at risk for high stress could slow cell aging through exercise, meditation, prayer, or other forms of stress reduction.
Answer to Question 2
Common effects of medium-term chronic stress include muscle tension and pain, headaches, fatigue, upset stomach, difficulty sleeping, bruxism, sore throat, and colds. The text briefly explains each of these conditions in relation to stress. For example, continued activation of the stress response can cause continued muscle contraction which leads to muscle tension and pain, headaches, and fatigue. The stress response decreases the activity of the digestive system and immune system, leading to stomach upset, sore throat, and colds. The text also provides a list of additional symptoms.
Early Stress and the Prefrontal Cortex
Effect of Stress on Immune Function
Adulthood & Aging
Stress and the Common Cold
Aging and Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Homeostasis
The Brain and Body Under Stress