Long-term stress can have an impact on your heart health

There are various things that can make a person stressful, ranging from heavy daily activities, traffic jams or personal problems. Although stress is a normal part of life, stress in the long run can have adverse effects on body health, including disrupting heart health. Basically, stress is the body's natural reaction that arises when faced with a difficult situation. When the body experiences stress, the heart rate will increase, breathing becomes faster, muscles tighten and blood pressure will increase. If left without treatment, stress can cause wider problems.

Effects of long-term stress on the heart

When stressed, the body will release the hormones cortisol and adrenaline to prepare the body to respond to a situation. In the long run, this condition can affect heart health. Therefore, it is important to deal with stress as soon as possible. Stress is also associated with a decrease in the quality of endothelium, the protective layer in blood vessels. This is thought to trigger inflammation which then causes a buildup of cholesterol and fat in the coronary arteries. If this happens for a long time, you run the risk of having a serious heart condition. The risk of heart problems is not only due to stress itself, but also because of the wrong way of handling stress. Many people tend to engage in unhealthy activities, such as smoking, or consuming fatty foods and high cholesterol when stressed. These things increase the risk of heart problems.

How to Prevent Stress

Basically, everything that you face in your daily life risks causing stress. However, by understanding the causes and how to manage stress, you can reduce the risk of heart problems. Some ways you can do to prevent stress, including:

• Always think positive and increase laughter

Positive thinking can make the heart calmer and more regular heartbeat. In addition, multiply to laugh to protect the heart from disease. According to research, can reduce arterial inflammation, stress hormone levels, and increase levels of good cholesterol.

• Do meditation

Meditation can also help relieve the stress that you experience. Stress does not need a special room and time. You can sit in a quiet place, like on the porch, then take a deep breath and exhale several times.

• Keep away from the media

Reducing interaction with TV media, cellphones, or the internet, at night and at certain times, can help deal with stress. Especially if what you see in the media smells negative and has the potential to disturb your mind. If your stress is gone, you can access the media at any time.

• Do not push yourself

Do not hesitate to say "no" if you are reluctant to agree to do something. The more often you feel forced to do something, the more you will feel stressed. Instead, accept sincerely the things that you cannot change or control.

• Gather with dear people

Stress can be prevented by getting together with the people you care about and love you, to share stories and help those who are struggling.

• Make time for yourself

Take a moment to relax and do the things you like.

• Exercise regularly

Regular exercise can get rid of stress and make you more resilient to deal with problems. Sports with a group of friends can provide benefits for heart health, as well as emotional health.

• Counseling

If you feel you cannot handle stress alone, it is a good idea to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Stress can affect overall body health, including heart health. If you are able to manage stress well, the risk of heart problems will be reduced. No less important, apply a healthy lifestyle and stay away from factors that can interfere with heart health, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, or poor diet. If you find it difficult to control stress, you should consult with a psychologist or psychiatrist, and if you already have a history of heart problems, do not forget to control the cardiologist regularly.