In the May issue of Good Housekeeping, there was a short article on Elizabeth Blackburn, Ph.D, a Novel Prize winning scientist who is doing research on damage to chromosomes. One of the things that can damage them is "chronic severe psychological stress". She said, "By 'severe stress', I mean something like taking care of a spouse with Alzheimer's."
Okay, we knew that caregiving can wear you down, wear you out, make you cranky and, well, you know…. But damage our chromosomes? That's some truly serious stress—and the very next time that somebody tells me that stress is good for you, I'm going to give them a copy of this article. They might not listen to me, but it's hard to argue with the research of a Nobel Prize winner!
I don't know about anybody else, but I find this information really frightening. For a long time I've said that it feels like this experience changes you on a cellular level. Turns out I was closer than I thought.
I didn't read the article but I totally believe her. I read somewhere that you can actually, scientifically be proven that you can be under so much stress that when you sweat your sweat can be bloody in appearance. I have heard that about stress being good for you too but I think the people that say that don't have the kind of stress that we have.
That is scary! If it damages our chromosomes what does it do to those children of EOA patients. WIll there children have problems? They sure need more studies and follow up!
Okay, if it damages my chromosomes I am not going to worry. I don't plan on having anymore children. Not long ago my DH ask me if I could get pregnant. This question came after the following conversation. He knew I was upset so he said "my children really love you and I replied with they should I'm their mother". He then said "you're their mother?". In a little bit he ask me "am I their Daddy? Now are'nt you glad my power is back and I am online?
No matter how much stress you have, it can't be as bad as a man I know who is.....................are you ready for this........................taking care, in his home, of his mother, father, and 50 year old wife, ALL of whom have Alzheimer's Disease!!!!!! Whenever I think my stress is bad, I think of him.
I should have included in my earlier post that Dr. Blackburn's research is specifically on the tips of the chromosomes. "Keeping the tips of chromosomes healthy is key to preventing the formation of early cancer cells…" This is the part of the chromosome that stress has been shown to damage, so it's not important just to people who are planning on having more children. It's important to all of us dealing with that "chronic severe psychological stress" who would like to survive being a caregiver.