Severe stress can actually cause heart disease & bull; hello healthy

Stress isn't always bad because it is the body's way of protecting itself from harm by keeping you focused, active, and always on the lookout. Looked at badly when the stress you are facing is severe enough that you can't handle it. Over time, this stress will accumulate and cause the risk of heart disease to increase. The following is an explanation of the effect of stress on heart health.

How does stress cause heart disease?

Basically, stress is not a direct cause of heart disease. It's just that, people who have stress are prone to heart disease. That means, people who experience severe stress have a high risk of developing this disease later in life.

The risk will be even greater if the person is obese, has hypertension (high blood pressure) or high cholesterol, smokes, and adopts a sedentary lifestyle, aka lazy to move.

Once investigated, stress can reduce heart health in various ways that make a person more susceptible to cardiovascular disease, including:

1. When stress increases blood pressure

Stress increases the risk of heart disease by increasing blood pressure. If stress is overcome, blood pressure will return to normal and will not have any impact on the body. Conversely, if the stress doesn't go away and it gets even worse, then blood pressure will remain high.

This high blood pressure then puts a person at risk for heart disease. When blood pressure is high, blood flow is not smooth, so that it can cause interference with the work of the heart.

Many studies say that high blood pressure is a risk factor for heart attack, heart failure, and even stroke.

2. Increasing appetite

In addition to increasing blood pressure, stress can also cause a greater risk of heart disease due to weight gain without control.

Many people who are under severe stress make food an escape. Stress can also make your appetite increase. This is related to high levels of the hormone cortisol when stress occurs.

The effect of this increase in the hormone cortisol tends to make a person overeat, even if the stomach is full. Often times, foods that are used as an outlet for stress are unhealthy foods, such as junk food.

Excessive portions of food, trigger obesity which is a risk factor for heart disease. Food choices that are not healthy for the heart also eventually lead to the formation of plaque. This plaque can block blood flow in the arteries so that it is not smooth and causes heart disease.

3. Not passionate about other activities

Stress can make a person lazier and this can increase the risk of heart disease. You feel lazy because you are feeling gloomy and sad all day long. Your concentration which is focused on this sadness, will definitely make your enthusiasm for activities slack.

If it's just a day's lazy attitude, that's fine. However, if this condition persists, don't be surprised if you weigh yourself up later when you weigh it. Because a sedentary lifestyle, aka lazy to move, will make more body fat deposits.

And again, fat will form plaque and clog your blood flow and eventually your heart can't pump blood properly.

4. Trigger difficulty sleeping or insomnia

Insomnia is closely related to severe stress, which in turn can increase the risk of heart disease. When stressed, your brain will be busy thinking about the various problems you are facing. As a result, you have trouble sleeping and sleep deprivation the next day.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), insomnia due to stress makes blood pressure rise. This condition, if allowed to continue, will damage heart health.

5. Tend to find an escape by doing bad habits

Stress can also increase the risk of heart disease because it tends to make you smoke and drink alcohol more often. On the pretext, cigarettes and alcohol can make you more comfortable.

In fact, smoking is the main cause of heart disease. Coupled with drinking excessive alcohol, which ultimately triggers inflammation in the body.

How to manage stress to prevent heart disease

Stress, which can increase your risk of heart disease, should not be underestimated. You must know how to prevent heart disease.

Try to exercise, do things you like, and get enough sleep to relieve stress. If it doesn't work, don't hesitate to consult a psychologist.

Managing stress is not only necessary for healthy people. Those of you who experience symptoms of heart disease, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and irregular heartbeats must also be good at managing stress so that the condition does not worsen.