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We have all experienced some level of stress at one point or another. Stress is commonly brought on by feelings of emotional or physical tension from an activity, event, or thought. It tends to make you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stress can cause minor physical discomfort, like an upset stomach or sweaty hands, but did you know that it can have a strong effect on your body – including your heart?
With the ongoing advancements in medicine, we’ve learned more about the unique connection between stress and heart health. Bond Clinic Cardiologist Dr. Jennifer Forbes tells us more about this topic. “Stress is certainly a risk factor that contributes to heart disease and is often under-recognized. There are short-term and long-term effects of stress on the heart,” says Dr. Forbes.
“The short-term effects are due to increases in hormones like adrenaline and cortisol in the body. Due to stress, this can cause an increased heart rate or high blood pressure,” says Dr. Forbes. “The long-term effects of stress on the heart include higher levels of inflammation in the body, increasing the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries, resulting in coronary artery disease, which then increases the risk for further cardiac issues such heart attacks, arrhythmias, and heart failure,” explains Dr. Forbes.
Stress can also cause people to make decisions and unhealthy behaviors. That includes poor eating habits, not being physically active or using alcohol and tobacco products. These are primary risk factors for heart disease.
According to Dr. Forbes, there are ways to relieve stress from your heart. “The most important thing that you do for your overall heart health is to manage stress the best that you’re able to do. That includes tactics like exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and drug use, talking with friends & family, and relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, and things of that nature,” says Dr. Forbes.
While everyone experiences stress differently, it can be valuable to find ways to manage it. Bond Clinic has a dedicated cardiology team to help navigate any issue of the heart. With a combination of multi-specialty physicians and our urgent care, we offer a full array of services to the Polk County community. Call us at 863-293-1191 to schedule an appointment, or visit www.BondClinic.com to learn more about our cardiology providers.
