If you’re experiencing constant stress, your heart may be in danger. Find out what research shows about stress causing a heart attack.
If you’ve heard that having a lot of stress can kill you or cut your life short, then you might have heard right. According to studies, psychological stress may be as dangerous as other heart disease risk factors like high blood pressure and smoking. To help explain, here is an overview of the connection between stress, heart attacks, and your overall health.
Stress and the Body
While stress is not necessarily bad in and of itself, experiencing too much can negatively impact your overall wellbeing. Chronic stress can cause symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, tense muscles, fatigue, and an upset stomach. Over time, the increase in stress hormone levels can lead to high blood pressure, inflammation, poor circulation, and a high risk of heart attacks and strokes.
In a 2021 analysis, researchers analyzed the effect that physical and emotional stress has on people’s hearts. According to their results, mental stress had a greater effect on participants, leading to a higher risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, this analysis confirms earlier studies that show how psychological stress may double the chance of having a heart attack.
The research also points to the amygdala, which is the “fear center” of the brain that switches on and releases a flood of stress hormones when you’re feeling anxious. While this response is helpful in life-or-death situations, it can also lead to inflammation of the arteries, greater insulin resistance, and higher levels of body fat if you experience chronic stress. In other words, if you want to maintain good heart health, you need to focus on stress management as well as other factors like blood pressure and cholesterol.
Managing Stress
Even though constant mental stress can increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke, there are ways to lower this risk. There are several stress management techniques you can try until you figure out which one works for you.
For example, you can try exercising regularly, focusing on your sleep quality, and staying connected with friends and family. You can also practice mindfulness through meditation, yoga, and deep breathing techniques or find a hobby to keep you distracted from negative thoughts.
The Outlook
While stress may be beneficial in certain circumstances, too much of it can take a toll on your heart and overall health. By reducing your stress levels and managing them effectively, you’ll be improving your psychological health and heart health.
In addition to stress management, you can boost your heart by taking supplements like L-arginine Plus. Its ingredients effectively promote circulation, blood pressure, cholesterol, and more. If you’re ready to support your heart health, then learn to manage your stress and take L-arginine Plus.