Stresses in the micro-environment and aging

ABSTRACT

Changes introduced in the micro-environment as a result of stresses are suggested to lead to accelerated aging in material as well as living systems. Both have a designed capacity to undergo stresses. For a machine it is possible to estimate the capacity or safety from the ratio of damaging stress to working stress but in the absence of such data on living organisms, a guideline can be obtained from the analysis of biological fluids and metabolites present therein, for food or other material input, to retard aging. Interactions and reactions of living organisms are governed by Le Chatelier's principle just as much as in material system. It has been shown that stresses are a part of the reaction equilibria on which living systems operate. A rat race, that is on to attain better quality of life, is putting considerable stress on the individuals concerned. They have to fit into a fast moving society or else they would be counted out. Stresses such as these demand extra work from mind as well as body. The resultant strain then appears in the form muscular or mental fatigues delirium, nervous tension, blood pressure or heart ailment. Living system, the paper observes, has to adjust to environmental constraints according to the said principle to respond to stresses and for conservation as well as maintenance of metabolites observed among plants, animals and mankind, wears out the strained parts of the body and are responsible for aging. Human system has been suggested to have the ability to absorb and transmit environmental stresses, through its superior central nervous system into the endocrine glands. The adjustment process demands considerable amount of extra energy for operation of the psyche and the high demand on the system leads to accelerated aging