Longevity expert: Chronic stress is like a boxer slowly landing blows until the body breaks

Chronic stress is akin to a slow-acting boxer, delivering repeated blows until the body can no longer withstand them, according to cardiologist and longevity expert Mario Boskis. He emphasized that emotional distress translates into tangible physical effects, particularly when sustained over time.

Boskis highlighted that stress has evolved from a purely psychological issue to a primary cardiovascular risk factor, with recent studies indicating it can nearly double the likelihood of a heart attack. He noted that symptoms can manifest in various ways, even in young individuals, including palpitations, sleep disturbances, persistent headaches, and changes in daily habits.

Detecting chronic stress can be challenging, as Boskis pointed out that self-awareness is difficult, and often a family member or doctor identifies it first. He cautioned that symptoms can sometimes be mistaken for acute conditions like panic attacks, stressing the importance of medical consultation to rule out genuine cardiac problems.

Argentina faces a significant stress burden, with Boskis reporting that nearly 49% of adults perceive themselves as stressed, placing the country at the top globally. However, he clarified that not everyone experiencing stress faces the same level of cardiovascular risk, and the key is to determine who among the stressed population is truly at risk.

Physiologically, stress triggers biological mechanisms. Acute stress releases adrenaline and noradrenaline, increasing heart rate. Chronic stress, however, leads to the release of cortisol, which elevates blood pressure, blood sugar, promotes weight gain, and damages blood vessels by attacking the endothelium, the inner lining of arteries, causing inflammation and potential blockages.