What is the Link Between Stress and Heart Problems — Aditi Jagtap Pune

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What is the link between stress and heart
problems? Aditi Jagtap Pune
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About
In todays fast-paced environment, stress has
become an everyday companion for many. Although
people feel stressed occasionally, chronic
stress has several detrimental effects on their
health, especially their heart health. We have
jotted down a few points around the underlying
mechanism, potential risk factors, and practical
strategies that can mitigate the impact of
stress on your heart health.
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What is stress and its physiological responses in
the body?
Stress is a common word for us to say, but what
does it mean? Our bodys natural response to
perceived threats or dangers plays a crucial
role in making us survive. However, when it
becomes chronic and prolonged, it can threaten
the delicate balance of our bodys systems,
particularly cardiovascular health. During
stress, the body releases stress hormones,
including cortisol and adrenaline, which limber
up the body for immediate action. While this
response is essential in acute situations,
prolonged stress can adversely affect the heart
and blood vessels.
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What is stress and its physiological responses in
the body?
The leading primary mechanism through which
chronic stress contributes to heart disease
development is increasing blood pressure. When
stress prolongs, the uninterrupted release of
stress hormones can lead to exceptionally high
blood pressure levels. High blood pressure, or
hypertension, increases strain on the heart and
arteries, damaging the arterial walls. As a
result of this damage, certain conditions can
develop over time, like atherosclerosis, where
plaque accumulates within the arteries,
narrowing the blood vessels and disrupting blood
flow to the heart and other organs.
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What is stress and its physiological responses in
the body?
The leading primary mechanism through which
chronic stress contributes to heart disease
development is increasing blood pressure. When
stress prolongs, the uninterrupted release of
stress hormones can lead to exceptionally high
blood pressure levels. High blood pressure, or
hypertension, increases strain on the heart and
arteries, damaging the arterial walls. As a
result of this damage, certain conditions can
develop over time, like atherosclerosis, where
plaque accumulates within the arteries,
narrowing the blood vessels and disrupting blood
flow to the heart and other organs.
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How stress affects your heart?
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Result of stress
The result of stress on the heart is more than
just increased blood pressure and clotting.
Stress hormones release, such as adrenaline and
cortisol, increases heart rate and
contractility. This bodys physiological
response prepares it for the fight or flight
situation, allowing it to cope with the current
threat or danger.
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Chronic Stress
However, as per Aditi Jagtap Pune, in cases of
chronic stress, where stress levels remain
consistently elevated, the heightened activity
state of the heart also remains constant. The
uninterrupted release of stress hormones and the
consistent increase in heart rate and
contractility can ultimately result in long-term
damage to your heart. The heart muscles may
become weakened, resulting in a condition known
as cardiomyopathy. Some common characteristics
of cardiomyopathy include enlargement,
thickening, or stiffening of the heart muscles,
impairing the hearts ability to pump blood
effectively. As a result of this weakened state
of the heart, fatigue, shortness of breath, and
fluid retention may occur as symptoms.
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More Common than You Think
Moreover, long-term exposure to stress can
hinder the normal electrical impulses that
govern the rhythmicity of the heart, potentially
resulting in arrhythmias. Arrhythmias are
irregular heart rhythms that can be a cause of
situations such as palpitations, rapid
heartbeats, or skipped beats. These
irregularities in heart rhythm can be reasons
for the disturbances caused by the continuous
release of stress hormones. Severe arrhythmias
can sometimes have deadly consequences if not
properly managed
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Mental Health is Integral

• Stress-related hypertension, or high blood
  pressure, also strains the heart. When blood
  pressure remains elevated due to chronic stress,
  the heart has to work harder to pump blood
  effectively throughout the body. This increased
  workload can lead to the thickening of the heart
  muscles, specifically the left ventricle, known
  as left ventricular hypertrophy. Left
  ventricular hypertrophy is a compensatory
  response of the heart to the increased demand,
  but if left untreated, it can impair the hearts
  ability to pump blood efficiently. This
  diminished pumping capacity raises the risk of
  heart failure, where the heart cannot meet the
  bodys demand for oxygenated blood.

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Reasons
Another reason for increasing stress levels is a
lack of sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation
disrupts the bodys natural balance and impairs
its ability to cope with stressors effectively.
Sleep is crucial for the restoration and
rejuvenation of the body and mind. When sleep is
compromised, the bodys stress response system
becomes dysregulated, leading to increased
sensitivity to stressors and an elevated risk of
developing stress-related health issues,
including heart disease, as per Dr Ranjit Jagtap
Daughter.
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Don't hesitate to seek help.
We care about our hearts, so why can't we care
for our minds?
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Thank you!