As the world becomes faster and more demanding, stress has become a common element of daily life. It’s not an uncommon sight to see people juggling work and family chores, creating a boiling pot of stress. For Dr Dennis Doan , understanding the relationship between your stress levels and heart health offers insights into managing stress more effectively, keeping the literal heartaches at bay.
The Impact of Stress on Heart Health
Medical studies suggest that chronic stress exposes your body to unhealthy, persistently high levels of stress hormones. These include adrenaline and cortisol which may cause inflammation throughout the body, including your heart.
This inflammation is a contributing factor to heart conditions including hypertension (high blood pressure) and atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries). People under stress might adopt various negative habits like smoking, overeating, or heavy drinking that directly harm heart health.
Managing Stress for a Healthy Heart
So how can one prevent stress from corroding the harmony of their heart’s health? Dr Dennis Doan provides some stress management techniques that have the potential to be a lifeline for your heart.
• Regular Exercise – Exercise doesn’t just keep your weight in check. It’s also a powerful stress reliever thanks to the mood-improving endorphins it produces. Find an activity you enjoy and make it a regular part of your life.
• Meditation and Relaxation – Techniques such as yoga, deep breathing, and meditation can help decrease stress levels, lowering your blood pressure and heart rate.
• Adequate Sleep – Lack of quality sleep can ramp up stress hormones while increasing inflammation, both of which are bad for the heart. Aim to get a good night’s sleep of seven to nine hours as often as possible.
• Healthy Diet – Eating nutrient-rich foods can help fight inflammation caused by stress. Opt for fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, while avoiding excessive fats and sugars.
• Social Connection – Lastly, engaging with loved ones stimulates the release of oxytocin, also known as the ‘love hormone,’ which helps to decrease stress levels Dr Dennis Doan.
