We all know that diet and exercise can contribute to poor heart health, but what if there’s another cause of heart disease? Studies have shown that stress can increase your risk for cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and more. The truth is, stress and your heart have a relationship that not many people know about.
If you’re wondering “how does stress affect the heart?” here are a few things to know about stress and heart health.
Stress & Heart Disease
How does stress cause a heart attack? Stress and heart disease go hand in hand—while stress itself does not directly cause heart disease, it can lead to conditions that increase a patient’s risk of heart attack such as high blood pressure, alcohol use, poor diet, and lack of sleep.
Anxiety is another mental health issue to be aware of when it comes to heart health. How does anxiety affect your heart? With anxiety, your body is in fight-or-flight mode for long periods. This causes an increase in your blood pressure which can lead to heart disease over time.
Dealing with Stress
You can help prevent heart disease by learning coping mechanisms to help you handle your stress. Regular exercise, a nutrient-rich diet, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and staying away from known stressors can all help reduce your stress level.
The keys to a healthy heart are a positive mindset, a good diet, and regular exercise. If you’re worried about your heart health, most physicians will be able to give you recommendations for keeping it under control.
If you think you might be having a heart attack, you should call 911 and get to the hospital immediately. Our staff at Memorial Heights ER are experienced with cardiovascular emergencies and are always ready to assist.