Stress can be hard to avoid, but don’t worry if you can’t
avoid stress completely—you don’t have to.stress is a normal physical and
psychological to both positive and negative situations. Stress itself
isn’t necessarily unhealthy—but your reaction to it can be.
How Does Stress Affect Your Heart?
When stress becomes constant and chronic, it can cause an
increase in heart rate and blood pressure that may damage the artery walls, the
American Heart Association (AHA) reports. Stress that’s left unchecked may
contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
In particular, research has shown that those with “Type A”
traits—such as often feeling rushed, irritated, impatient, or angry—have an
increased likelihood of developing heart disease. Emotions like anger and
hostility cause your body to release stress hormones into your blood. This
causes an increase in your heart rate and blood pressure, which makes your
heart work harder.
Managing Your Stress Levels
Although the exact link between heart disease and stress is
unclear, it’s smart to take steps now to get your stress levels under control.
It may be tempting to ask your doctor for medicine to manage stress, but
lifestyle changes such as stress management techniques are a much better
long-term strategy to lower your stress level.
One of the best ways to help you relax and manage stress is
through deep breathing exercises, including meditation. It takes a little
practice to make a habit of breathing exercises, but anyone can learn them. You
can use them at home or in the office—or anywhere that you need some relief.
Try these exercises, recommended by the AHA and Mayo Clinic, to help reduce
stress:
