Stress, the ultimate killer

The problem is that, it is a stressful world out there! Stress becomes part of our modern life. It puts our bodies in a heightened state for a long period of time, which can silently harm our hearts.
 

The aim of this article is to help you understand what stress is, how it can affect your heart health and what you can do about it.

What is stress?

Stress is your mind and body’s response to any demand, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
 

Not all stress is bad, there is a type of stress that called “acute stress” or “short-term stress” that have a lot of positive effects. It can improve brain function, make you more creative, and help you act quickly in an emergency. If it is a temporary and short-term stress, your body should speedily and easily be able to return to its natural state, your heart rate should slow and your breathing should return to normal.
 

If it becomes too excessive, prolonged and unrelieved, it interferes with a person’s ability to live a normal life for an extended period. It may harmfully affects your mental and physical health and became the second type of stress that called “Chronic stress”.

People suffering from this type of stress get used to it, they may not even realize that they are under chronic stress until it silently harms their hearts and affect their immune systems.

How stress leads to sudden cardiac arrest?
 

1. It can affect your heart directly.
   The excess of stress hormones such as adrenaline into the bloodstream can increase blood pressure and encourage clotting in the arteries.
   Chronic stress causes the heart to pump more quickly, knock the heartbeat out of its natural rhythm and increases blood flow through vessels that may already be narrowed by arterial plaques, this may cause the rupturing of the plaques which can in turn cause a blood clot and cardiac arrest.
   
   
2. It can affect the heart indirectly.
   Stress leads to unhealthy behavior, it causes some people to cope with it with risky behaviors and act in ways that increase their risk for sudden cardiac arrest such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol and overeating.

Read more about smoking, how does it harm your cardiovascular System and increase your risk of having a Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Well, it is important to understand the causes and the effects of stress you have been experiencing and do whatever it takes to make it STOP. That is the ultimate key to stay healthy and youthful.
 

Here are 6 simple tips to cope with stress:
 

1. Live a healthy lifestyle.
   Healthy bodies are better prepared to cope with stress. Try to eat healthy food by reducing caffeine, sugar and to avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs.
   Learn how to eat right in this article: Love your Heart and Eat right.
   
   
2. Be active.
   Exercise is a great stress buster. Try to incorporate some physical activity into your daily routine.
   Read more about the wise exercise Routine and how it can prevent sudden cardiac arrest in the article titled: “When You Exercise... Do it wisely”.
   
   
3. Accept the things you can't change.
   Some sources of stress are unavoidable in such cases. The best way to cope with stress is to accept things as they are, you cannot control everything that happens to you, but you can control the way you respond.
   
   
4. Take a break from whatever is causing you stress.
   If someone consistently causes stress in your life, limit the amount of time you spend with that person.
   
   
5. Stop trying to do things perfectly.
   Accept that you cannot do things perfectly, no matter how hard you try, do your best and be proud of however close you get.
   
   
6. Think positively.
   Your thoughts have a very powerful effect on your feelings and on the level of stress you encounter. When facing major challenges, try to look at them as opportunities for your personal growth and try to learn from your mistakes and focus on the solutions.

Most of your stress comes from the way you respond, not the way life is. Be kind to yourself, you deserve to be happy and healthy.

Always remember. “Stress is a killer” Don’t let it win.