FOR Dr. and Professor Alberto J. Núñez Sellés, stress presents itself as a result of distinct causes and we cannot just associate the condition with a psychosocial origin, although this may be true in the majority of cases.

When we hear of someone who suffers from this condition, we generally associate it with the influence of modern life because people say: "I don’t have enough time or money", "the bus is late and I’ll be late for work", "tomorrow I’ve got an exam" and dozens of other expressions that reflect one’s mood, as is common today.

However, the Cuban professor explained that there are other types of stress, including environmental stress caused by pollution of the atmosphere, the hole in the ozone layer and noise; nutritional stress caused by processed and "junk" food, as well as animal fats; genetic stress associated with genetic deficiencies; and physiological stress caused by disorders amongst the body’s diverse systems.

All these variants of what some call "20th and 21st century sickness" have their expression in the biochemistry of the human body, some more than others, and in the balance of reactive chemical species, fundamentally oxygen (which include free radicals). This imbalance is known as oxidative stress.

The greater the level of stress, of any of those mentioned previously, the greater the level of oxidative stress or, in the same way, the greater the imbalance of very complex biochemical systems that are related to many disorders suffered by the human body. Perhaps the most typical example of the influence of oxidative stress on the human body is one that is increasingly evident every day: the process of aging. But when does aging begin?

From the very moment that the spermatozoid penetrates the ovule and begins the cellular replication to create a new human life that after nine months of gestation is mature enough to leave the mother’s body and begin an independent life. It would be wrong to suggest that aging begins after 65 years of age in what has been termed the Third Age, the doctor underlined.

That is to say, the possible longevity of this new human being will depend on the "qualities" of the spermatozoid and the ovule, as well as the application of healthy life habits and methods, both from the mother and the father. For this reason, it is recommendable that, before conception, the couple should undertake some kind of genetic advice, much more so if family antecedents are known; psychology (the couple’s maturity to face up to the attention required by a new member of the family); and specialized medical checks with sperm analysis, an evaluation of reproductive organs, etc. If the growth of the fetus is seriously affected by one of these anterior causes (genetic, psychological and/or physiological), its life expectation will be considerably reduced and there will be little chance of this new human being reaching the Third Age or satisfactory longevity. Another important factor is the couple’s attitude during pregnancy such as, for example, their attitude towards toxic habits (tobacco, alcohol and drugs), both in an active and passive form. If the mother smokes or drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, this will affect the development of the new being’s central nervous system. Smoke reaches the fetus and consumption of hallucinogenic drugs ensures that the new baby will be dependent on these substances prior to birth. All this accelerates the aging process even to the point of premature death. A couple’s healthy habits coupled with adequate nutrition during pregnancy will allow the "little one" to be born – although by then s/he is an "oldie" of nine months – and aspire from the start to display a (normal) process of aging and reach her/his potential of living to 120 years or more.