Did you know that there is a link between mental health and heart disease

Let’s take a look at how the two relate in this article:

For long periods of time, people who are experiencing depression, anxiety, and stress or suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may experience physiological effects on their bodies.

These effects can include increased heart rates, high blood pressure, reduced blood flow to the heart, and increased cortisol levels (a stress-response hormone) which can pose a risk of a heart problem such as a heart attack.

Stress, anxiety, and depression can lead to unhealthy habits, such as smoking, a lack of physical activity, failing to take prescribed medications, or overeating, which are all known to contribute to heart diseases.

Not only do people with depression, stress, or anxiety have fewer healthy ways of coping with stressful situations, but they also may have a harder time making healthier lifestyle choices to reduce their risk of heart problems.

Heart rate and blood pressure can increase as a result of chronic stress. When dealing with stress for a prolonged period of time, your stress hormone levels rise, and you may develop high blood pressure (hypertension).

Hypertension can have damaging effects on your heart, brain, and other organs; eventually, hypertension may lead to serious health problems such as heart failure, stroke, heart attack, and abnormal heart rhythms.

Heart rate and blood pressure can increase as a result of chronic stress. When dealing with stress for a prolonged period of time, your stress hormone levels rise, and you may develop high blood pressure (hypertension).

Hypertension can have damaging effects on your heart, brain, and other organs; eventually, hypertension may lead to serious health problems such as heart failure, stroke, heart attack, and abnormal heart rhythms.

What is stress, and when does it become chronic? 

In general, stress refers to a feeling of emotional or physical tension faced by challenges and situations, which may result from frustration, anger, anxiety, or even nervousness. When faced with a challenge or demand, your body reacts to stress, which can be positive.

For example: if it helps you to avoid danger or when you are injured, and even when faced with completing certain tasks in a workplace, it can help boost focus. However, if it lasts too long, it may cause mental and physical harm. Stress is a normal part of life, and it comes in two main types: acute and chronic:

• Acute stress: Stress of this type is short-term and normal and also passes quickly. Acute stress happens to everyone from time to time; you feel it in challenges like slamming your brakes, having a disagreement with someone, or going for an interview. This may also occur in times of doubt, changes, or when pushed to do more. Additionally, when you’re doing something new or exciting or in a dangerous situation, you may benefit from it.
• Chronic stress: This type of stress lasts for a longer period of time. Many people who go through challenges like the loss of a job, financial troubles, or living in an unhealthy environment often worry about how they will manage.Any sort of stress that lasts for weeks or months is known as chronic stress, and when managed wrongly, it may lead to mental and physical health problems. People with chronic stress may also find it difficult to engage with other people whilst they cope with the challenges in their lives.

When you experience chronic stress, your body is constantly on alert, even when there is no sign or reason for danger. Over time, this can lead to putting your health at risk by increasing blood pressure, risk of heart problems, depression, and anxiety, and if you already have a heart condition, chronic stress can make it worse.

A person suffering from chronic stress can experience a variety of physical and emotional symptoms as a result, which can, in turn, interfere with their ability to perform their daily life activities. Let’s take a look at the signs and symptoms of what chronic stress may include:

• Having difficulty concentrating and being forgetful
• An increase in fatigue, overly or underlie adequate sleep.
• Increased headaches or pains in the body
• Stiffness or tension in the muscles, specifically in the jaw or neck area
• Constipation, diarrhoea, or nausea
• Usage of unhealthy habits like smoking to relax.
• Higher heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Chest pains
• Difficulty breathing