Stress is a normal human response to certain stimuli. It’s at the heart of our fight-or-flight response, an important ally in successfully navigating dangerous and tense circumstances.
However, stress is meant to be a temporary phase you pass through and recover from. When you experience chronic stress, your body has no chance to reset, and the physical effects begin to take a toll, particularly on your heart.
When you develop heart-related symptoms, it’s time to visit cardiologist César R. Molina, M.D., FACC, and our team in Mountain View, California. Dr. Molina provides premium cardiovascular care for his patients. As an internal medicine specialist, he’s well-positioned to help you manage the effects of stress to minimize their impact on your health and life.
In this month’s blog, we look at three things you should know about stress and how it can affect your heart.
The body’s physical response to stress is roughly the same for everyone. It can boost blood pressure and heart rate while dilating pupils, tensing muscles, causing perspiration, and deepening respiration.
However, stress triggers are vastly different between patients. Deadlines can be stressful for some, while others thrive on the challenge. People can even have varied responses to dangerous situations like car accidents.
There’s no right or wrong way to experience stress, so it’s important to know and understand the circumstances that elevate your stress response.
A chemical response to stress causes physical changes in your body. Adrenaline and cortisol are the primary stress hormones that trigger the temporary stress response.
Chronic stress keeps your blood pressure at an elevated rate, making your heart work harder. Your risk of plaque buildup and coronary artery disease climbs. You’re also more likely to suffer from atrial fibrillation, heart attack, and stroke.
Chronic stress can cause or increase the impact of other health issues, which in turn can elevate heart-related problems. Stress can contribute to sleep disturbances and poor eating habits while also interfering with your motivation and time for activity and exercise.
These conditions also negatively impact your heart health, combining with the direct effects of stress to boost blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk. Conditions like anxiety, depression, and type 2 diabetes also become more likely and add to the burden on your heart.
Stress is real, and it’s dangerous. Dr. Molina is always available to talk with you about the stress in your life, how it affects your heart, and how you can improve your condition. Call or click to schedule an appointment today.
