Facts about Stress and Heart Disease
There is a known link between stress and heart disease. Many will associate stress and heart disease with emotional stress. For example, traumatic incidents, which will trigger a heart attack. Medical literature tends to focus on another aspect of stress and heart disease, namely the effect of physical stress on the body and the heart disease. There is a link between both types of stress and heart disease but in a different manner. Emotional Stress and Heart Disease Most people refer to emotional stress when they discuss stress and heart disease. Emotional stress and heart disease can be very dangerous. Especially since it can affects other diseases and ailments as well. Although, it is mostly circumstantial evidence, several studies have shown that people who have experienced recent major life events, such as the loss of a loved one, tend to have a much higher incidence of premature death. The main effect of stress is a surge in adrenaline causing the blood to clot more readily, thus the risk of heart attacks and other coronary problems is greatly increased. Physical Stress and Heart Disease The physical stress like exercising has a different effect on heart disease. It places physical demands on the heart causing it to beat faster. However, physical stress is acknowledged as beneficial to the body. Hence, it is the lack of physical stress that is a major risk factor for heart disease. So both types of stress are linked to heart disease in different ways. What to Do about Stress and Heart Disease Before considering the do and don't of stress and heart disease, it is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle. For smokers and heavy drinkers, it means quitting as soon as possible. A proper diet with well-balanced nutrition is important as well. Those who lead sedentary lifestyle should endeavor to exercise regularly. This will help to build physical resilience to ward off the ill effects of emotional stress. Handling emotional stress may also be assisted by medication. Consult your doctor for more information on the best way to handle stress and heart disease. Middle aged people should seek medical advice before starting any strenuous exercise program. By leading a healthy lifestyle, it is the best guard against stress and heart disease as well as many other ailments.
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