Stress, Healthy Hearts Don't Mix
Psychological factors such as depression and stress are now recognized as playing a significant role in the development of heart disease and its complications.
Anxiety, depression and distress from traumatic life events are widely believed to trigger symptoms of heart disease and heart attacks, reports medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay in The Early Show's heart health series.
"Stress is one of those powerful predictors of our overall health," Senay told co-anchor Rene Syler Friday.
Senay says even the smaller stresses of day-to-day life, such as job pressures, relationship difficulties or even traffic jams, can lead to a state of chronic stress that never really goes away.
"The problem for so many of us," Senay points out, "is that we have this sort of chronic, unremitting stress, and we're not really cognizant of the role it's playing in our overall health, particularly where our heart is concerned."
According to Senay, chronic stress is a constant pressure that results in physical changes that raise our risk of heart disease. Increased blood pressure, inflammation of the blood vessels and weight gain are three of the most dangerous physical effects of chronic stress.
People with so-called "Type A" personalities are more prone to heart problems because they are naturally prone to stress-related emotions such as anger, hostility, worry and aggression.
Psychological stress causes the release of "fight or flight" hormones, including a hormone called cortisol. In small amounts, cortisol is beneficial, helping the body cope with stressful situations. But for people who experience chronic stress and have sedentary lifestyles, cortisol causes the development of fat in the abdominal area.
Hormone-related abdominal obesity is a major risk factor in heart disease, especially if it occurs in combination with other symptoms.
Obesity and high blood pressure, along with high cholesterol and triglycerides, are known collectively as metabolic syndrome, and these symptoms add up to an increased risk of heart disease.
It's important to recognize the role stress plays in the development of these symptoms, so people can take steps to relieve the unhealthy pressures on their bodies by altering their lifestyle.
Research shows that patients who undergo stress management and exercise as part of their rehabilitation after heart surgery significantly reduced their levels of depression and emotional distress, and experienced physical benefits as well, such as reduced chest pain, improved blood vessel health and better handling of surges in blood pressure. Psychotherapy, relaxation techniques, exercise, proper diet and adequate sleep can all help to reduce stress.
Senay advises that you talk to a doctor about the best plan for you.
"Anything you can do to reduce stress in your life," she says, "is obviously going to benefit your health. There's no question about that."