Stress & Heart Disease – Find out How Stress is Bad for Your Heart
For several years now, there has been stories in the media that have discussed the link between stress and heart disease. The link is that your risk of heart disease increases when you are under constant and long-term stress. One way to relate to this would be to think of how burnt-out your mind can feel when you are under stress. Same thing goes for your heart.
In this article, I will provide you with information about stress, how it affects your body, and in particular, why it affects your heart.
Stress is considered to be something you are in control of (even though it may not feel like it sometimes) when it comes to preventing heart disease. Some people tend to bring on more stress themselves just in their attitude and approach to life, and in how they respond to what life brings their way. I can honestly say this, because I am a Type A personality. Learning to let go of a lot of things beyond my control that were causing me stress, made a huge difference in my well-being.
Of course, how you react to the event also plays a role in how much stress your body can handle. Have you ever noticed how different people respond differently to the same situation?
Stress becomes pathological when it never goes away, and you are constantly dealing with it. Before long, you may notice that your body begins to feel like it's falling apart. You may feel nervous, anxious, clammy, have a high heart rate, be unable to sleep, have headaches, and so many other signs and symptoms.
When your body does not shut off its stress response, is when all body systems can become faulty, including your heart. Your heart can become weaker, and the coronary arteries are prone to accelerated atherosclerosis (fatty build-up in the artery walls). Myocardial infarction, also known as heart attack, commonly occurs during times of stress in one's life.
It is very important to get stress in your life under control. The first step is recognizing that you are under stress. Next, you want to be able to start reducing or eliminating as much stress as possible. This may mean changing jobs if it is the job that is your source of stress, or learning how to be able to say "no" rather than take on every task that comes your way. As well, exercise and yoga or immersing yourself in a loved hobby can do wonders in reducing the stress you are under.
To conclude, realize that any kind of stress, when prolonged, can be bad for your body and your heart. You need to learn how to recognize it so that you can start making positive changes that eliminate or reduce it. Your heart will be happy you did!
Learn more ways to take care of your heart by checking out my Heart Vitamins blog for tips, information, and heart vitamins, as well as to pick up your FREE report of The Cholesterol Theory - A Tragedy to Health, found on my main page .