How war accelerates human aging and what to do about it? Conversation with Daria Ozerna

The guest is Daria Ozerna, a biologist and lifestyle book author.

Molecular mechanism of aging

Daria Ozerna: Chronic and huge stress factors lead to aging processes. This is a molecular mechanism based on the action of cortisol, which makes our body start to work in the «just survive, and then at least the grass will not grow» mode.

 

We stop forming collagen in our skin and the tips on the tails of chromosomes, which are called telomeres, begin to shorten. The number of telomeres we have is how our age is theoretically measured. It’s like nail extensions.

 

As the telomeres stop growing, mechanisms make the neurons start to look like trees after communication with «Kyivzelenbud». A neuron that once looked like a tree turns into a match. These are all effects of cortisol; it accelerates aging at the molecular level.

 

• Ukraine’s problem is that even without the war we looked older than our passport age, in comparison to our European and Canadian peers.

(The USA is a bad example, they have bad health, although there is no war in their country). In Ukraine, there is such an indicator as «years of life spoiled by diseases.» In Ukraine, the indicator of life in «health» is much lower than it could be.

 

Now we have a risk that it will all move on for a few more years, and chronic diseases will start even earlier. This is due to both cortisol and our lifestyle changes and access to the health care system.

 

People who have now left Ukraine are also in a very vulnerable situation as life in emigration is difficult, and access to medical services varies greatly. In Ukraine, if you have money, you can at least go to a private clinic and receive your services the next day, but in Europe this is impossible.

 

What to do to help yourself: singing, monotonous work, pets

 

Now sleep is the only effective and common denominator to which we can help our bodies. For us to sleep normally, we need to spend less time in front of the screen. Accordingly, read less news, especially in the evening.

 

People who are not journalists, doctors, clergy, or mental health services, are not at risk of trauma that causes PTSD. These occupations can cause stress disorder, yes, but then it won’t give us flashbacks in theory. People who witness traumatic events, and are primary witnesses to them, are truly traumatized, and their PTSD will make them 10-20 times more likely to get various chronic diseases.

 

• We are left with less time to spend reading the news and discussing «betrayals.»

It exhausts us and disturbs our sleep and posture. With this time, we can sleep better, watch the birds, water the flower beds, participate in weaving nets, some constructive work, but not read the news about the war.

 

You could get together in Zoom and sing. Any work that is mechanical and repetitive (such as knitting, embroidery, shelling beans, or cutting vegetables to dry) will bring us to this less anxious state. When we sing, we breathe properly, we have better lung ventilation, and when we do it with someone, we really feel that we are united and that we are not alone.

 

Our animals are our source of the hormone “oxytocin.” It has a magical effect — it restores the sensitivity of neurons. People with PTSD are insensitive to good factors, they do not perceive joyful positive signals, and they have a lot of dopamine, but little pleasure, because they are insensitive to it. Oxytocin from pets, massages, hugs, and the fact that we are together, and calm will restore this sensitivity.

 

When I see our soldiers with pets, not only did they saved the pets, they also added life to themselves.

 

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2doEnm9ClmI[/embedyt]

What tests do we have to take?

 

If you have access to medicine, please go and measure your fasting glucose. This is a very good indicator. Measure the level of hemoglobin. It will say a lot. Glucose can be very out of order now because of cortisol and the unhealthy behaviors that we have.

 

Fighting and feeling bad is very uncomfortable. We need to be healthy and collected. Take care of yourself as much as possible.

 

• Our health is our tool. It is also a weapon.