How to Keep Stress From Weakening Your Bones

Stress and Your Bones

A high stress lifestyle has always been suspected as one of the contributing causes of osteoporosis and other major health problems. Continued high stress levels can also lead to depression or depressive behaviors. Now, recent studies have indicated people with major depression have a lower bone mass density compared to non-depressed individuals. Other studies have found that an extended loss of social interactions and pleasurable activities may have an impact on bone density as well. In light of these findings, it is important to consider two important trends. First, stress appears to be more important than once thought in the healthy functioning of your bones. Second, depression should be considered as another important risk factor for osteoporosis.

Definition of Depression

By definition, depression is a mental condition affecting your mood, thought process and physical functioning. It is characterized by a range of negative feelings such as sadness, loneliness, anger, despair, fatigue, and guilt as well as loss of energy and low self-esteem. Depression may cause you to lose interest in many aspects of life and no longer find pleasure in activities and relationships. Depressive thoughts can cause physical changes in your body that include various pain syndromes and other medical conditions.

The Chemical Cascade Affecting Bone

What is really happening inside your body as the result of high stress living and how does it affect bones? Constant stress promotes an unhealthy hormone shift increasing cortisol and reducing serotonin levels. Higher cortisol levels increase total body inflammation decreasing calcium absorption and increased calcium excretion. Osteoblasts (bone-building cells) are reduced in number impairing the bones ability to renew which is essential to maintaining normal bone density.

The Bone / Brain Connection

The depressed brain sends different signals to your internal organs and bones than a healthy brain. The brain uses the sympathetic nervous system to increase the secretion of a chemical compound called noradrenalin within the bone. Noradrenalin literally has a depressive effect on the osteoblasts. The interleukin-1 protein, which has been known for many years as a stimulator of the immune system, increases the number and activity of osteoclastic cells (bone break-down cells). Stress causes less bone to be created and more bone to be destroyed resulting in osteoporosis.

Bone Balance Destroyed

Chronic stress can now be physiologically traced as a significant player in the creation of osteoporotic bones. By reducing the ability of the osteoblasts to form new bone and speeding the osteoclasts into bone breakdown, the natural balance of bone growth and repair is altered. Effective osteoporosis treatments must consider stress reduction so bone formation and repair can return to normal.

Consider a New Direction for Your Healthy Bones

In light of these recent discoveries it's not enough to just discuss diet, exercise, supplements and medication for the treatment of osteoporosis. The research indicates that effective treatment programs for healthy bones must include mechanisms to reduce the negative effects of stress on your body. Reducing the negative effects of stress on your body helps the cells responsible for healthy bones to begin to function normally once again. In a nutshell, the time spent promoting good mental wellbeing is as important as that spent on good physical health.