This increases the risk of stroke

This increases the risk of stroke and heart attack. Who is more at risk?

Stress is a strong tension in the body due to unfavorable external factors. And if stress occurs constantly and over a long period of time, then on this background serious pathologies can develop, including the heart and blood vessels.

Long-term stress can cause major health problems

Heart attack and stroke. That’s what stress does. So, strong negative emotions increase the level of stress hormones, which leads to the narrowing and loss of flexibility of blood vessels, increased blood pressure and stress on the heart. The heart rate quickens and the heart beats “harder”.

If the force with which the blood flows through the vessels is greater than normal, the vessels have to work harder, resulting in a thickening of the muscle layer around the vessels. The vessels themselves lose their elasticity and create greater resistance to blood flow, which increases blood pressure.

Who is more at risk?

In general, cardiac risks are higher under the influence of stress:

• in elderly people;
• if you already have concomitant diseases (myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, transient ischemic attack (or stroke), diabetes, hypercholesterolemia);
• in patients with excess weight and bad habits;
• if close relatives have had myocardial infarction or stroke.

How to protect your heart from stress?

To combat stress, it is important to keep the following tips in mind: eat right, give up bad habits, get enough sleep and exercise regularly. You must also maintain a work-rest schedule and be able to switch to other activities. Breathing exercises, meditation and yoga will help.

It is also important to undergo regular medical check-ups, especially if disorders have already been identified (arterial lesions, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diseases chronic).