How are stress and heart disease related? (2024)

Whether an argument causes you to lose sleep, traffic causes you to miss another appointment, or the details of an upcoming wedding overwhelm you, stressful events are normal, everyday occurrences.

But when stress becomes a constant companion, it can have serious negative consequences for our health. Stress increases the rate at which plaque builds up and can build uparteries. It makes the platelets sticky and prone to forming clots that can block these arteries. Stress can also cause the arteries to narrow, starving the heart of nourishing blood and causing chest painheart attack.

Womenare particularly vulnerable to the effects of stress on the heart – sorry ladies! That's why it's so important for women with heart disease (or its risk factors) to recognize stress and learn how to manage it in a healthy way.

“We can all identify with beingburnt out, exhausted and stressed,” says psychologist Carolyn Fisher, Ph.D. “But that doesn't mean we can't do anything about it.”

What is stress?

Stress can be broadly defined as a threat or demand placed on your body that exceeds your ability to cope.

Whatever the cause, stress fuels usFight or flightreaction that floods the body with adrenaline. When stress becomes constant, the body remains in alert mode. And persistently high levels of stress hormones can cause physiological changes.

Coping styles are different

“Unfortunately, women report higher levels of stress and feel the impact of stress more than men,” says Dr. Fisherman.

Women tend to cope by engaging in social activities such as talking on the phonefriendsor sedentary activities such as reading, watching television, or eating.

Men turn to physical activities, such as sports or sports.

“Taking an active role in facing your stressor is healthier and more effective than avoiding it by sleeping, drinking, or isolating yourself,” explains Dr. Fisherman.

Stress management – ​​how to deal with it

There are many techniques to minimize your response to stress:

• Biofeedback. (This technique teaches you to control your body's response by changing your thoughts and feelings.)
• Meditation.
• Breathing exercises.
• Autogenic training. (This exercise involves speaking or thinking verbal signals to different parts of your body.)
• Progressive muscle relaxation.
• Mindfulness-based stress reduction.
• Challenging unhelpful thought patterns.

For maximum effectiveness, these techniques must be supported by other good health behaviors.

“When we get enough sleep, eat right, and exercise, we feel more armed and ready,” says Dr. Fisherman.

Whatever stress management techniques you choose, you will need to practice them regularly to prevent stress from building up.

“It should become part of your daily routine, like bathing or brushing your teeth,” says Dr. Fisherman. "But think of the benefits. Once the stress is gone, who's to say that another major stressor will never occur again? At least you'll have the tools to prevent it from taking a damaging toll on your health."

What are some common symptoms of stress?

Learn to recognize these symptoms before a heart attack or other serious medical problem occurs:

Physically:

• Insomnia.
• Gastrointestinal problems.
• Muscle tension.
• Migraine.
• Palpitations.
• To sweat.
• Pain.
• Constant fatigue.

Emotional:

• Frustration.
• Angst.
• Depression.
• Peaceand fear.

Behavioral:

• Insulation.
• Lack of exercise.
• Escape behavior, such as drinking or sleeping.
• Eat more or skip meals.
• Avoid things.
• Fighting and aggressive behavior – verbal or non-verbal.

Cognitive:

• Not thinking carefully.
• Bad judgement.
• Memory disturbance.
• Negative tanker.