[Paleopsych] Telegraph: Stress 'makes us live longer'

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Stress 'makes us live longer'
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/05/09/nstress09.xml
    By Nicole Martin
    (Filed: 09/05/2005)

    Short bursts of stress can help people stay young, according to
    research which undermines the belief that a frenzied lifestyle can
    damage your health.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    "Research shows that cells subjected to stress repair themselves,
    allowing us to live longer," he said.

    "As the body ages, this self-repair mechanism starts to slow down.

    "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."

    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.

    However, Dr Kyriazis insisted that long-term stress should be avoided.

    He said that prolonged stressful experiences, which could include
    caring for an elderly relative, were bad for health.