The Lasting Impact of Trauma on Health: How Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Affect Your Body and Mind
Trauma isn’t just emotional—it leaves a lasting imprint on the body. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, conducted with over 13,000 Kaiser Permanente patients, revealed that early trauma significantly increases the risk of both mental and physical health challenges in adulthood.
What the ACE Study Uncovered
The ACE study asked participants about 10 types of adverse childhood events, assigning a score out of 10. The higher the score, the greater the risk for health issues later in life. Why? Trauma triggers a chain of physical responses that affect multiple systems in the body:
⚠️ Chronic Stress and Cortisol: Trauma keeps the body in a prolonged high-stress state, elevating cortisol levels, which can wear down systems over time and lead to chronic conditions.
🛡️ Immune System Disruption: Persistent stress impairs immune function, making it harder for the body to defend against infections and illnesses.
❤️ Heart-Brain Imbalance: Trauma can lead to long-term cardiovascular issues, disrupting the balance between heart and brain health.
🧬 Cellular Aging: Chronic trauma reduces telomerase, an enzyme that repairs chromosome ends. Without it, cells age faster, increasing vulnerability to diseases.
🔥 Higher Inflammation: Trauma affects gene expression (epigenetics), leading to inflammation, which increases the risk of conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
Healing from Trauma: A Path to Health and Well-Being
Understanding the impact of trauma on your health, processing past experiences, and learning to regulate stress responses can change the course of your physical and emotional well-being. Healing is possible, and it starts with understanding the whole person.
At SB Mindful Momentum Physical Therapy Co. in Santa Barbara, California, we help patients navigate the lasting effects of trauma and stress on the body. By integrating mindful movement, therapeutic techniques, and personalized care, we support healing and recovery on every level.
