Stress during childhood and adolescence may pave the way for cardiometabolic diseases in adulthood. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association analyzed the health data of 276 participants from the Southern California Children’s Health Study, spanning from 2003 to 2021.
The study assessed stress at different life stages—childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood—using the Perceived Stress Scale, with early childhood stress reported by parents and later stages self-reported by participants.
Participants were categorized based on their stress levels over time: consistently high, decreasing, increasing, and consistently low.
The study employed six cardiometabolic risk markers to calculate a risk score in young adulthood, including neck artery thickness, blood pressure, body mass index, body fat percentage, android/gynoid ratio, and Hemoglobin A1C. Higher scores indicated a greater risk of cardiometabolic diseases.
Findings revealed that high perceived stress, especially starting from adolescence, correlated with an increased likelihood of developing cardiometabolic risk factors in young adulthood. Notably, high stress was associated with greater neck artery thickness, indicating potential atherosclerosis.
Experts suggest that incorporating stress management strategies early in life could mitigate the risk of cardiometabolic diseases later on. The study highlights the significance of addressing stress as a public health concern, as unchecked stress can lead to poor lifestyle choices that exacerbate cardiometabolic health.
Further research is needed to explore how stress impacts the body from a cardiometabolic perspective, potentially linking stress levels to markers of inflammation like HS-CRP.
The study underscores the importance of healthy coping strategies and open communication within families to manage stress effectively. Encouraging physical activity, relaxation techniques, social connections, and professional help when needed can build resilience in children and adolescents, helping them navigate stress healthily.
Source: Medical News Today
Image by Iqbal Nuril Anwar from Pixabay
