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Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of death globally, leading to approximately 20.5 million deaths in 20211. In India, the burden of CVDs is rising sharply, with even younger populations increasingly affected. There are many reasons behind it: rapid urbanisation, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, environmental pollution, and an often overlooked culprit - stress.
Have you wondered how everyday or chronic stress, often dismissed as harmless, can silently impact your heart? Prolonged stress can lead to high blood pressure, inflammation, and other risk factors that significantly increase the chances of developing heart disease. Alarmingly, 85% of CVD-related deaths result from heart attacks and strokes, many of which are preventable through early intervention and lifestyle changes, including stress management.
This blog will guide you through the crucial link between stress and heart health, other common causes of heart disease, and early symptoms that indicate your heart may be under stress.
Synopsis
What is Stress?
Stress is your body’s natural reaction to any challenge, change, or threat, causing further emotional, physical and behavioural responses. Stress is not always bad, as it helps the body evade a threat and also motivates you to work and perform better. But too much stress is worrying and causes various negative changes in the body, affecting your heart and overall health.
Types of Stress
Acute stress: This is short-term and usually occurs due to a single event, to prepare your body for the upcoming threat. For instance, when going for a job interview, visiting a dentist, having to speak in public, performing on stage, getting stuck in traffic and many more. In acute stress, the body changes and returns to its normal state after dealing with the stressor.
Chronic stress: This type of stress persists regularly for a longer time to face a challenge, which may be weeks, months or even years. The body stays in an active state and does not return to normal. For instance: financial worries, personal relationship issues, caring for a family member, dealing with a chronic illness, pressure at the job and many more.
How Does Stress Affect Your Heart Health?
While researchers are still unravelling the complex relationship between stress and heart disease, evidence suggests that stress doesn’t just affect your mood; it can be a serious contributor to heart problems, whether short-term or chronic. Acute stress can temporarily raise your risk of a heart attack. In rare cases, intense emotions may even trigger “broken heart syndrome” (takotsubo cardiomyopathy), which mimics a heart attack.
Chronic stress is even more harmful. Over time, it can increase blood pressure and blood sugar levels, cause inflammation, disrupt heart rhythm, and reduce blood flow to the heart. Additionally, stress causes bad behaviours like smoking, eating poorly, and not exercising, all of which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Research links high stress levels to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and even death. Emotional stress from work, isolation, or childhood trauma can further add to this burden. While stress may not directly cause heart disease, it’s a significant contributor, and managing it is key to protecting your heart.
Signs Your Heart Might Be Under Stress
There are no specific symptoms of heart disease that directly indicate stress is affecting your heart. However, if you can recognise the early warning signs of heart disease, it will help you seek timely medical attention. If you're experiencing chronic stress along with any signs of heart trouble, consult a doctor immediately.
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High blood pressure
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Dizziness or fainting
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Irregular heartbeat
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Fatigue
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Swellings in the legs
What are the Causes of Heart Diseases?
In addition to stress, there can be many heart disease causes and risk factors, which will vary depending on the type of heart disease. These are:
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Atherosclerosis
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Unhealthy lifestyle choices such as poor diet, smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, and inactivity
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Medical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, thyroid disease, and rheumatic disease
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Certain medications
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Genetic issues
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Ageing
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Infections
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Heart injury
How to Manage Stress for Good Heart Health?
Stress is part of life; completely avoiding it is not possible. But, there are ways to manage stress so that it doesn't become chronic and negatively affect your heart health.
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Try exercising regularly for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week
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Focus only on important tasks, and ask for help when needed
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Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, tai chi, massage, aromatherapy, and mindfulness activities
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Do something that you enjoy, such as listening to calming music, reading a book, dancing, or any hobby
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Get good quality sleep for at least 7-9 hours
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Manage blood pressure and other health conditions
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Avoid stimulants, such as caffeine
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Connect and socialise with friends and family
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Seek professional help when needed
Conclusion
Although stress has become a part of daily life, it can seriously impact your heart and overall health. It increases the risk of developing heart disease and other chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which are themselves risk factors for heart problems. Try to manage stress through healthy habits. However, if you feel that stress is affecting your heart or you're experiencing symptoms of heart disease, consult a cardiologist at Manipal Hospitals, Broadway, for a comprehensive heart check-up, accurate diagnosis, and appropriate treatment for any type of heart condition. Book an appointment now.
FAQ's
There are various types of heart diseases, but commonly they are divided into 4 categories:
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Congenital heart disease, such as blue baby, a hole in the heart
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Lifestyle diseases, such as coronary artery disease
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Valvular heart diseases, like heart valve issues
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Degenerative heart diseases, like aneurysms, and calcification of valves
The cardiologist will perform a physical examination and ask about your family history and the symptoms you are experiencing. Based on this evaluation, various diagnostic tests may be recommended. These may include an electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, stress test, blood tests, and cardiac catheterisation.
Although reversing heart conditions completely is not possible, most can be managed, and symptoms can be improved with lifestyle changes and medical treatment.
If heart diseases are left untreated, they can lead to severe complications, such as heart failure, heart attacks and others. Thus, early detection and treatment of heart diseases are essential to manage the condition. Get regular heart health checkups done and recognise the symptoms of heart disease to take immediate action.
You can schedule an appointment with a cardiologist at Manipal Hospitals, Broadway, by contacting us or visiting our website.
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