Name: Đỗ Nguyễn Thu Huyền - 22DH711832

MOODLE 4

Teenage Stress Linked to Health Problems Later in Life

High levels of stress as a teenager may come back to bite you later in life, scientists have warned.

Stress is a serious issue among adolescents in the U.S, and being a teenager is hard at the best of
times. Internally, your body and mind are changing and reshaping, your hormones are haywire
and everyone is changing at a different pace. Externally, you're faced with pressures from your
peers, schoolwork, home life and, now, social media.
A 2018 poll of more than 35,800 American teens found that nearly half of them were stressed
"all the time." Numerous studies have shown that high levels of chronic stress can affect both our
mental and physical well-being, with links to cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes, fatigue,
obesity, digestive issues and immune system disorders. But, according to new research by the
American Heart Association, the effects of stress in our teenage years can last long into
adulthood.

"Chronic stress may cause the release of various stress hormones such as catecholamines and
corticosteroids, and activate the immune system in a way that results in chronic inflammation,"
study author Fangqi Guo, a postdoctoral research fellow at Keck School of Medicine at the
University of Southern California in L.A, told Newsweek.
This inflammation can lead to increased cardiovascular activity and injury to the blood vessel
walls, which can increase the risk of blood clots.
"In addition, adolescence is a critical period for development of hormone signalling pathways.
Changes in stress hormone signalling...and cortisol during this period may have long-lasting
impacts on one's cardiometabolic health," said Guo.

These cardiometabolic health concerns encompass a range of different issues, including type 2
diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressures and obesity, all of which contribute to an
increased risk of heart disease. "Understanding the effects of perceived stress starting in
childhood is important for preventing, lessening or managing higher cardiometabolic risk factors
in young adults," Guo said.

In their study, published in the journal of the American Heart Association, the team analyzed
information from the Southern California Children's Health Study—a large, long-term study of
over 12,000 children—to investigate the effects of environmental factors in children's health and
well-being that has been going for over 30 years.
From this large cohort, the researchers reviewed data on 276 participants to investigate perceived
levels of stress during adolescence and early adulthood. "Our study initially measured
adolescents' perceived stress levels when they were 13 years old," Guo said. "We found that
consistently high stress from age 13 to young adulthood affects one's cardiovascular health in
adulthood."

Guo said that even she was surprised by their results. "Although we assumed that perceived
stress patterns should have some association with cardiometabolic endpoints, we did not expect
such consistent patterns across various outcomes," she said. "Our findings suggest that perceived
stress patterns over time have a far-reaching effect on various cardiometabolic endpoints
including fat distribution, vascular health, and obesity. This finding highlights the importance of
stress management as early as in adolescence, as a health protective behavior."
While more work is required to understand the mechanisms behind this association and at what
age these long-term impacts begin to take place, Guo said that their findings were an important
sign that stress during our teenage years should be taken seriously.

"Our findings suggest that people with a decreasing stress pattern from adolescence to adulthood
show better heart health compared to people with consistently high stress level," Guo said.
"Therefore, we suggest promoting healthy coping strategies for stress management early in life,
which may help prevent development of risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases."

If you are struggling with stress, the American Heart Association has suggested a few simple
techniques:
Positive self-talk—reframe your thoughts from "I can't do this" to "I'll try my best."
Take deep slow breaths.
Go for a walk or exercise.
Break down big problems into smaller, more manageable issues.
Try meditation or yoga.
Meet a friend or talk to a family member.
And, if you are the parent of a struggling teen, the AHA recommend the following:

Communicate—ask them how they are feeling and let them know you are there to listen.
Encourage healthy behaviors—support them in simple behaviors such as sleeping, healthy
eating, exercise and reducing screen time.
Be a good example—take care of your own physical and mental well-being
Know when to get help—sometimes professional help is needed and there's no shame in reaching
out for extra support.

SUMMARIZE:
Scientists have warned that high levels of stress experienced during adolescence can have long-
lasting effects on health in adulthood. Stress is a significant issue among teenagers in the U.S.,
and it can lead to various mental and physical health problems. Chronic stress releases stress
hormones and activates the immune system, causing chronic inflammation, which increases
cardiovascular risk. Hormonal changes during adolescence can also impact long-term
cardiometabolic health. Studies have linked stress during teenage years to conditions such as
type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity, all of which contribute to an
increased risk of heart disease. A study analyzed data from over 12,000 children and found that
consistently high stress levels from adolescence to young adulthood negatively affect
cardiovascular health. The findings emphasize the importance of stress management during
adolescence to prevent the development of risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases. The
American Heart Association recommends various strategies for managing stress, including
positive self-talk, deep breathing, exercise, breaking down problems, meditation, and seeking
social support. Parents are encouraged to communicate with their teenagers, encourage healthy
behaviors, set a good example, and seek professional help when necessary.