Chronic stress is a major cause of illness and premature ageing, says Sir Cyril Chantler.

View slides from Sir Cyril's presentation

The weight of scientific research shows stress has a huge impact on our ability to remain healthy, according to Sir Cyril Chantler, chairman of health charity the King’s Fund.

Speaking at the first annual conference of the Prince’s Foundation for Integrated health, Sir Cyril said: ‘Chronic stress activates the systems that increase your risk of chronic illness and damages those that protect us from illness.’

He pointed to a number of studies demonstrating links between long-term stress and poor health, including risk factors for cardio-vascular disease and depressed immune function.

Stress has been shown to increase the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines – proteins critical to the development and functioning of the body’s immune response – that are linked to cell aging and death.

Eighty per cent of healthcare spending is on chronic conditions that afflict 44 per cent of the population, such as arthritis, rheumatism, and heart disease, the audience of health professionals and complementary therapists heard.

Yet these problems can often be tackled by stress management techniques and lifestyle changes Sir Cyril said. Better nutrition, more exercise, family and social support, good housing and work all play a part in making people more able to resist stress and remain healthy.

‘We need to consider the whole environment in which we live and how can people heal or address illness.’