Our bodies\u2019 immune responses to viruses or bacteria can create oxidative stress.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat causes the rest of the body to go into a response state and bring in everything to start fighting the infection,\u201d Mitchell explains. <\/p>\n
And while the goal is to get rid of germs, this immune response can also trigger inflammation, which can worsen as we get older.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs you age, you have sterile immune responses, which means there\u2019s no virus, there\u2019s no bacteria, there\u2019s nothing that\u2019s really causing a problem \u2013 but you\u2019re now having a big immune response which is causing chronic inflammation, which is causing this constant oxidative stress. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis can lead to inflammation so overwhelming that it can actually kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Long-term, chronic inflammation can lead to a range of diseases, from cancer to diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune conditions, organ failure and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>\n
How does oxidative stress happen?<\/p>\n
Oxidative stress is the term given to damage caused by an imbalance between your body\u2019s free radicals and protective antioxidants.<\/p>\n
This imbalance is usually well controlled by your body\u2019s systems, but can easily get out of control, causing inflammation and potentially leading to diabetes, cancer, heart disease and more.<\/p>\n
Free radicals take electrons from other molecules, like lipids and proteins, doing damage to them in the process.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor instance, DNA needs all its electrons to function the way it\u2019s supposed to, but when the free radical grabs that electron from the DNA, now the DNA\u2019s damaged. It\u2019s not going to be read the right way, it\u2019s mutated,\u201d Mitchell explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re under stress, when you\u2019re having too much inflammation or too much energy use, you\u2019re going to cause more and more oxidative stress to the point where your body can\u2019t fix it anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
WATCH: Dr Siobhan Mitchell explains how women can look after their heart health<\/p>\n
Who is most at risk of excess stress and inflammation? <\/p>\n
Obesity is a risk factor – but Mitchell notes that high-performance athletes can have too much oxidative stress too.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople think athletes are kind of protected from everything because they\u2019re so strong… [but] for instance, people who do the Tour de France die sooner because they have probably put too much oxidative stress into their bodies,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople who are obese or overweight also have more oxidative stress because they have more inflammation in their adipose tissue [body fat], and that inflammation is causing more oxidative stress throughout the body.\u201d<\/p>\n
Does it impact men and women differently?<\/p>\n
There are some differences between men and women when it comes to oxidative stress, mostly due to hormones.<\/p>\n
\u201cWomen have better control of their oxidative stress, especially in their brain and also their muscles and their heart, before menopause because of estrogen,\u201d Mitchell says.<\/p>\n
Estrogen has a protective effect on the body, acting as an antioxidant – but after menopause, it\u2019s no longer produced by the ovaries.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately that all goes away during menopause, and [women] start to have more oxidative stress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oxidative stress can also accelerate ageing and associated health problems. Mitchell cites a study showing that oxidative stress in the brain has been correlated with cognitive fatigue as well as cognitive decline over time.<\/p>\n
\u201cOxidative stress in the brain is not only linked to dementia but literally how much motivation you have,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re not taking care of your oxidative stress, even just the motivation to do daily activities can go down a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables can help balance your oxidative stress levels. Photo \/ 123rf<\/p>\n
Can you measure – and control – your oxidative stress?<\/p>\n