Bad Habits That Make You Age Faster

Prolonged stress can take a toll on our body, inside and out. While an initial flow of stress hormones is vital to our survival — say, if the building is on fire — the prolonged presence of these hormones eventually can wear down the bodies. Researchers are currently exploring how adrenaline, norepinephrine and cortisol interact with our genes, cells and muscles. Even if these stress hormones don’t age us outright, stress often leads us to unhealthy behaviors, such as losing sleep, smoking, drinking, overeating or turning to unhealthy “comfort foods,” all of which can affect physical health and appearance. Constant stress also may affect mental health, making one more forgetful or distracted.