Stress and the Heart

Appearing under the title “Stressed out? Your heart and brain might be paying the price,” an article told about research that shows that chronic stress can do more than just make a person tired. It can damage even young adults’ hearts and brains. In fact, there is a link between stress and cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS) in people under 50, especially women.

Dr. Nicholas Martinez-Majander of Helsinki University Hospital explains: “Younger people often experience stress due to long work hours, job insecurity, and financial pressures. Our study suggests this stress may increase the risk of stroke in younger women, independent of other traditional factors.”

The study of 426 young adults showed that women were most susceptible. “Women reporting moderate stress had a 78 percent higher risk of stroke,” while men showed no such link. Researchers suspected that hormonal, metabolic, and vascular differences may have played a role. And moderate stress was just as dangerous as extreme stress. Feeling “overwhelmed” or “unable to control important aspects of life” could silently put a woman’s cardiovascular system at risk.

What happens? The body releases cortisol, the “stress hormone,” stays elevated, wreaking havoc on multiple systems, because stress generally lasts for long periods of time. Blood pressure rises, putting strain on the arteries and heart. Such stress fuels inflammation. The endothelium (inner lining of the arteries) becomes less flexible and more prone to damage, slowing blood flow and raising the risk of clot formation. Tiny blood vessels in the brain are made more vulnerable to blockages.

What else? Stress disrupts sleep, weakens the immune system, and alters the metabolism, increasing blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The digestive and immune systems are put under strain.

What to do? Meditate and pray to calm the nervous system. Do light exercise for 10-15 minutes. Make sure to get adequate, restorative sleep every night. Reduce exposure to noise, bright screens, air pollution, and toxic chemicals (get out of the cities!). Eat anti-inflammatory (unprocessed) foods and essential nutrients.

The Bible has a basic principle concerning stress. “A merry heart doth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drouth the bones.” ” Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 17:22; 3:5.

—Author: Wendy Miller, staff writer
Source: NaturalHealth365.com