Chronic stress can damage the brain and increase our risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and dementia. Getty Images
Chronic stress can damage the brain and increase our risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and dementia. Getty Images

Decoding why and how stress affects us and how to deal with it



Stress is a word that gets used a lot. We know it is harmful, but what exactly makes it so detrimental to our health and bodies?

The United Kingdom-based non-profit organisation Stress Management Society defines stress as a physical response during which the body thinks it is under attack and switches to “fight or flight” mode, releasing a complex mix of hormones and chemicals. In turn, this causes a ripple of bodily reactions.

Dr Santhi Adigopula, staff physician at the Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, explains that stress is what happens when our bodies react to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional response. “Not only does this include negative change, but positive change can also create stress – such as a promotion, moving into a new home or the birth of a baby,” says Adigopula. “For each individual, stress is caused by different things, felt differently and reacted to in different ways.”

Sheetal Kini, clinical psychologist at The LightHouse Arabia in Dubai, says common stress triggers in the UAE include road traffic, long working hours, the high cost of living, long commutes to and from work, road rage, employment instability, dependability on visas (for expatriates) and being away from family and social support networks.

Our bodies are paying the price of this stress, with studies repeatedly showing the toll it takes on us. For example, research conducted by the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest Health Sciences in Canada and published in January in the journal Current Opinion in Psychiatry demonstrated how chronic stress can damage the brain and increase our risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and dementia.

Adigopula says it’s important to be aware that stress – both acute and chronic – can have short- and long-term effects on us physically. “Your body reacts to stress through a series of physiological changes – caused by the release of particular stress hormones – such as increased muscle tension, increased heart rate and blood pressure, rapid breathing, slower digestive functioning, a weaker immune system and a heightened state of awareness,” she says.

Examples of how chronic stress can affect us, according to Adigopula, include damage to the lining of our blood vessels and being more susceptible to atherosclerosis – a condition that restricts blood flow to the heart due to hardened blood vessels. But it’s not only chronic (long-term) stress that’s a problem; even periods of acute (short-term) stress can have negative effects on the body.

“When the body experiences acute stress, it releases cortisol, otherwise known as the stress hormone, which can affect our blood sugar levels and blood pressure,” says Adigopula. “If cortisol levels do not go back to normal immediately following the stressful occurrence, the excess amount can have negative effects such as sleep deprivation, lower immune function and slow wound healing.”

The good news is that we can lessen the negative effects stress has on the body if we become more aware of the purpose of the stress response.

Kini says the stress response was designed to help us react to a threat or danger – which was usually physical – by either fighting it or escaping it. Today most of our stressors are psychological. And while our most typical response to feeling stressed due to a deadline, for example, isn’t to immediately go for a run, Kini says that our bodies would like us to do exactly that.

“The stress response expects the body to engage in physical activity. When we don’t complete the stress response by giving our body what it needs, we end up with short-term and long-term side effects,” she explains.

Physical activity, however, isn’t the only way to disengage the fight or flight response. Kini says that any other activity that signals to the body that the threat is no longer present can help do this, which includes “reducing the rate of the heart and breath, and relaxing the muscles”.

The low down on MPS

What is myofascial pain syndrome?

Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (­connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).

What are trigger points?

Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft ­tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and ­sustained posture are the main culprits in developing ­trigger points.

What is myofascial or trigger-point release?

Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle ­sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in ­connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. ­Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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(Young Money/Cash Money)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

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SERIES INFO

Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series

All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Test series

1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March

Play starts at 9.30am

T20 series

1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March

TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

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The%20specs
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  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
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Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Walls

Louis Tomlinson

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Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
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The Outsider

Stephen King, Penguin

MATCH INFO

Real Madrid 2

Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')

Barcelona 0

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia

The Lost Letters of William Woolf
Helen Cullen, Graydon House 

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4