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SEO Optimized Web Article: Stress and Heart Disease
The effects of stress on the body are widespread
and profound. When experiencing stress, heart rate and blood pressure
increase, the body releases stress-related hormones such as adrenalin
and cortisone, and the muscles tense. Estrogen levels drop and clotting
agents are released into the bloodstream in case of injury. Fatty acids
and glucose are also released into the bloodstream to provide the muscles
with energy for fight or flight. While these responses elevate, the immune
system slows down, leaving the body vulnerable to infection and eventually,
heart disease.
With healthy stress, the body returns to
normal functioning soon after the stress event, but in cases of constant
stress the body remains in this “high alert” state indefinitely.
Complicating matters further, as the body ages it is less capable of recovering
from episodes of stress. It produces more stress hormones while taking
longer to return to normal functioning after a stress event.
Because the immune system is impaired during
and after a stress event, chronic stress prevents the body from healing
itself and fighting off disease. Recent studies have shown that the blood
vessels of those under stress are less able to react to blood flow changes,
increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Studies have also shown that stress prevents
the body from clearing triglycerides – a fat linked to heart disease
– out of the bloodstream. The longer this fat is in the blood, the
greater the likelihood it will be deposited in the arteries. This means
that the tendency of many people to eat comfort food (high fat, high sugar
treats) during times of stress can be a deadly habit, even if not overweight.
Adding to the problem, people under stress
are more likely to abuse their bodies with habits that elevate stress,
ultimately leading to heart disease. For example, smoking is closely linked
with heart disease and studies have shown that those under stress are
more likely to smoke. Other stress elevating habits are consumption of
caffeinated foods and beverages, alcohol or drug use, poor dietary habits,
a sedentary lifestyle, over or under eating and sleep deprivation.
People under stress also tend to withdraw
from social support systems. Without the emotional support and well-being
gained from these interactions, stress and feelings of isolation increase.
Social isolation in particular has been shown to have a strong link to
depression and heart disease.
There is no single factor that is the definitive
cause of heart disease. It is a combination of many different causative
agents and cannot be prevented or treated by any single action. Likewise,
chronic stress is not the result of any single event. It is an accumulation
of many environmental, social, and emotional factors, many of which can
be changed or adjusted to improve health and quality of life.
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