Know how stress increases the risk for heart disease

Everybody has some kind of stress in their life. It may have many different causes like family problems, stress at work, financial difficulties, poor health or separation of a close one. But if it is severe or chronic, then it becomes bad for your heart. Stress and your reaction to it, directly affects your blood vessels. Emotional stress may contribute to the development of chronic heart disease, or can help to precipitate acute heart problems, in case you are already having a heart disease. Unmanaged stress or stress related anger can also affect your health and cause high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, high cholesterol and damage to your arteries.

When you have more stress, you turn to habits like cigarette smoking, over eating, use of drugs or alcohol consumption. And all these factors put you at more risk of heart disease.

What is one to do to manage stress?

You are the boss of your body and your mind. So, you can improve on your inner strength and improve your health.

1. Take time to relax each day: Pamper yourself, hang out and enjoy. Listen to your favorite music. Take a bath where Epsom salt or other fragrant salt, has been added to the water.


2. Exercise daily: Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. When you exercise, the feel good hormones called endorphins are released by your body, which lower stress levels. You can do aerobics; walk with your friend, go swimming or join a dance class.


3. Get enough sleep: Along with proper diet and exercise, rest to reduce your stress. Have a sound sleep of 7-8 hours at night, which will relax your body and mind. Sleep restores your energy. A small nap in the middle of the day may also help you.


4. Start deep breathing: Deep breathing, pranayama and certain yoga postures improve your oxygen consumption and make you feel fresher.


5. Stop negative thinking and learn to lean on your true friends: This is one of the very important measures to release your thoughts of stress.


6. Drink more water: Water is known to relieve stress by reducing the stress hormone, cortisol.


7. Do not drink too much coffee: Caffeine is responsible to increase the stress levels, especially at work, so always make a preference for water as your choice of beverage.


8. Learn to say ‘No’: It is alright if you say ‘No’. Don’t run to fulfill each and every demand and expectation of others.

So manage your stress and live a healthy life!