Stress and Heart Disease

There are a lot of factors that can lead you to have heart disease, like diabetes, obesity, family history, etc.But one factor that is often ignored is stress. Most people think that stress is not a factor, but a cause of heart disease. That is actually not true.

Though people who suffer from heart disease do indeed have stress, leading a stressful life can also cause you to be a victim of a heart disease. 

No one is a stranger to stress. If stress is not managed properly, it can lead to numerous problems that are not only psychological and emotional, but physical as well.

Stress can cause you to have:

• Irregular heartbeats
• Chest pains
• High blood pressure
• Heart diseases

Is Stress a Direct Factor?

You must be wondering, that is leading a stressful life directly related to having heart diseases? The answer to that question is, no. But stress causes a series of conditions that have a domino effect, leading towards heart disease.

When people are stressed, they use several methods to cope with it. Some people like to eat while others like to smoke.

And it is the sugary things that attract you when you are stressed. Eating sugary treats can cause obesity, which contributes to heart diseases. Eating unhealthy foods also causes you to have high cholesterol.

When you are stressed, your body goes into “fight or flight” mode from the adrenaline pumping through your veins, which causes your blood pressure to rise.

High blood pressure or hypertension is a major cause of heart diseases.   

What are the Causes of Stress?

Every person has a different trigger for stress. It could be anything -- from environmental to psychological factors.

Everyone reacts to stress in different ways: some people immerse themselves in that stressful situation, while some try to find a way out.

The people who immerse themselves in stress can be victims of chronic stress.

Here are a few main stressors:

• Death of a family member or friend
• Problems at work or school
• Starting a new job
• Illness or a medical condition
• Problems with family or relationship
• Pregnancy
• Unemployment
• Retirement 

Coping With Stress

Before you start coping with stress, you need to find out what triggers your stress. Once you have found that out, learn techniques to make sure you are not stressed by that situation.

A few coping mechanisms you can try are:

• Stop smoking – nicotine can actually accelerate your stress levels. So, instead of smoking, you can chew sugar-free gum.
• Eat Healthy – eating can help you cope you with stress, but instead of going towards the unhealthy snacks go for healthy ones like a platter of fruits, popcorn or grilled meat lettuce wraps.
• Relax – you can try yoga or meditation.

Are you a victim of chronic stress? Are you worried that it might be affecting the health of your heart? Make an appointment at Keystone Cardiovascular Center by calling 201-431-7355 and our team of medical professionals will take excellent care of you.