10 Key Stressors that Destroy Heart Health

Is your daily life damaging your heart?

What causes stress?

We all experience stress at some point in our lives. Many Americans experience moderate to high levels of stress, with 44% reporting an increase in stress levels over the last five years. Your body releases hormones when it senses stress. These hormones cause your muscles to feel tense, make your brain more alert and can increase your pulse.

Typically, we experience the feeling of stress due to a particular situation or difficulty. Short-term stress is known as acute stress. You may experience acute stress as a result of an upcoming presentation, procedure, or exam. Chronic stress, on the other hand, can last for long periods and can lead to many health conditions if not recognized and managed appropriately.

The Top 10 Factors that Commonly Cause Stress in US Adults

Is my Daily Stress Harming my Heart?

Many of us know that stress is bad for our health. One of the major effects of stress on the body is its impact on the heart and its ability to function properly. Stress may lead us to feel depressed, anxious, or overly fatigued. When your body is under a lot of stress, it releases the hormone adrenaline, which causes your blood pressure to rise and your heart rate to increase. This is known as the fight-or-flight reaction. Staying in this mode for long periods can lead to chronic stress, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke. Chronic stress can negatively impact various aspects of our health, such as compromising the immune system's efficiency and disrupting sleep patterns.

5 Easy Ways to Manage Stress and Keep Your Heart Healthy

We must take control of our stress and manage it in healthy ways. By prioritizing stress management, we not only improve our mental and emotional well-being but also elevate the skills needed to face life's uncertainties with a positive outlook. Let’s take a look at some healthy ways to cope with stress.

1. Exercise and eat a healthy diet: Engaging in physical activity can help lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels. In addition, you should work to clean up your diet! Reducing sugar and fat intake while increasing consumption of vegetables, fruits, and lean protein helps regulate blood sugar; lowers inflammation; decreases the risk of depression, heart disease, and stroke, and boosts energy levels.

2. Stretch or Meditate: Light stretching and meditation can help clear your mind of stressors. It is important to give your mind a break and focus on mental well-being, just as much as physical health. Even with 10 minutes of meditation and stretching a day, you can effectively reduce your stress levels.

3. Spend time with friends or loved ones: Spend time with those you enjoy! Socializing with others has been shown to reduce stress levels and improve overall well-being.

4. Get plenty of sleep: It is recommended that you obtain 7 or more hours of sleep per night regularly. Being sure you get enough sleep is essential for our bodies to function properly.

5. Find activities or hobbies you enjoy: Learning to try new things and develop new hobbies can reduce stress. Whether that is reading a new book, going for a walk, or watching your favorite show, engaging in activities you enjoy are great ways to manage stress healthily.

No one likes to feel stressed. Learning ways to cope with stress healthily is essential for our health. Your heart will thank you for it!

Still Feeling Stressed? St. Mary’s is Here to Help Manage Your Stress.

Friendly, clean, well-equipped wellness centers with knowledgeable staff, fun and varied classes, and lots of natural light are available in both Athens and Lavonia!

Primary care providers can work with you through all stages of life to maximize your health, prevent illness, and control chronic conditions such as high blood pressure. PCPs are your partner for wellness! Team up with a St. Mary’s PCP today and take charge of your mental and physical wellbeing!