Each person manages episodes of stress in different ways, however, it seems that this affects how their cardiovascular systems respond, that is, if stress produces strong emotions of anger or irritability, on a day-to-day basis, they might be more likely to have a heart attack or heart disease.
This is how experts from the Ministry of Health explain it, in relation to the fact that a negative response and continuous exposure to stress, adds to the list of risks for heart problems, just like smoking, a sedentary life or nutritional habits. deficient.
How do emotions influence heart health?
As explained to Portal Bogota the Doctor Diego Rodriguez, medicine and Health Promotion and Maintenance Route of the Southern Subnetwork, the most common reasons that cause stress are related to labor, economic, family, couple problems, among others.
In turn, the expert said that suffering from stress leads to various effects on the body such as sleep problems, anxiety, fatigue, headaches and other associated symptoms, which can also influence cardiovascular health.
“Experiencing strong emotional impacts, for example, can cause ailments such as stress cardiomyopathies, that is, they cause the body to produce hormones such as adrenaline, increased heart rate and the left ventricle of the heart to deform and weaken over time; This is called broken heart syndrome in popular parlance,” Dr. Rodríguez explained.
(It may interest you: Do you need psychological support? Contact these hotlines in Bogotá)
In the following audio, Dr. Rodríguez elaborates on why stress is associated with heart disease:
It is worth clarifying that not only stress can be the cause of heart disease; if it is added to other conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, blood pressure or other heart-type diseases, that is when it can increase the risk of suffering a heart attack.
On the contrary, the emotions produced by a good hug, doing a short breathing routine, meditation or yoga, and connecting with nature, among other activities that generate well-being for the person, regulate and reduce stress levels and, with it, , the increase in cardiac pulsations is avoided unnecessarily, as explained by the specialist.
On the other hand, the Dr. Isabel Lariza Martínez, cardiologist of the South West Subnetwork, mentions that in Colombia, The three conditions that most affect the development of heart problems are: ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus.
In particular, men are the ones who tend to suffer more from heart disease (in older ages) compared to women, said the specialist.
In the following audio, the expert explains the main conditions that predispose a person to heart disease, in addition to continuous exposure to stress:
❤️ Tips to take care of your heart
Every September 29th World Heart Day is commemorated and therefore in Portal Bogota We share some simple recommendations from health experts, both for managing some strong emotions, and for taking care of your heart and thus preventing diseases:
Dr. Diego Rodríguez of the South Subnetwork indicates that fortunately there are many ways to reduce the chances of suffering from a heart disease, including the following:
????♂️ Cheer up to exercise
According to Dr. Rodríguez, exercise is not only a physical activity that promotes a healthy weight, important in the prevention of cardiovascular risks and heart damage, but also prevents the development of diabetes, hypertension and, very importantly, helps regulate stress and anxiety levels.
“Practicing some exercise, physical activity or sport, it is proven that increases the levels of endorphins in the body, hormones that are responsible for making the person feel good and at the same time distract them from their worries or negative emotions from day to day,” the expert said.
For her part, Dr. Lariza Martínez of the South West Subnetwork explains that by combining a routine of physical activity, which can even be 20 constant minutes a day, with breathing exercises, it considerably helps to relieve stress.
Likewise, the expert specified that exercise limits the negative effects of stress such as the constant alarm reaction, which is responsible for maintaining a high heart rate at times when it is not essential to have them, and this translates into tranquility, well-being and heart health.
????⚕️ Control your blood pressure
Dr. Rodríguez indicates that having high blood pressure or hypertension are risk conditions for developing heart disease and therefore the importance of monitoring blood pressure on a regular basis, visiting the doctor.
In this way, the specialist evaluates if the blood pressure range is adequate, according to the person’s age, and/or instead, will take the necessary precautionary measures.
Dr. Martínez from the South West Subnetwork reinforces that high blood pressure is one of the risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases, as it is silent and does not present warning symptoms, so regular visits to the doctor might alert to the person on time.
???? Take care of your cholesterol and triglyceride levels
In a regular visit to the specialist, the person can request tests that indicate how their cholesterol and triglyceride levels are in the blood, which are decisive for the correct functioning of the circulatory system.
In the following audio, Dr. Rodríguez explains the effect of high cholesterol on the heart:
???? Try a healthy diet
The experts from the Ministry of Health agree that maintaining a healthy diet is reflected in the health of the heart, that is, that it contains a good amount of antioxidants and that they provide natural vitamins such as fruits, vegetables, and on the contrary, limit those harmful as the excess of flours, sugars and processed foods.
“A correct diet promotes good nutrition, regulates the person’s weight and helps the heart not have to work too hard to pump blood to the body, taking into account that it is one of its main functions,” said Dr. Diego Rodríguez .
For her part, Dr. Lariza explained that high levels of glucose in the blood, due to inadequate nutrition, are a risk of diseases such as diabetes, which produces heart and cerebrovascular diseases, so limiting the consumption of sugars, as well as drinking pure water, regulates these levels.
???? Don’t smoke and drink in moderation
The specialists explain that the consumption of tobacco or cigarettes, added to the excessive consumption of alcohol, increases the risk of suffering from various diseases, in which, of course, those of a cardiac nature are found.
“Cigarette smoking harms arteries, hardens them and promotes the formation of atheromasthat is, those arteries that are characterized by the formation of plaques inside them, which decrease blood flow, become obstructed or rupture, and in this way can cause a stroke,” explained Dr. Diego Rodríguez.
Regarding excessive alcohol consumption, Dr. Lariza Martínez explained that this can increase cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, as well as chronic hypertension, risk factors for both heart attack and stroke.
“When a patient overindulges in alcohol consumption, it usually causes their blood vessels to constrict and lead to high blood pressure, among other heart conditions. Being aware of the importance of moderating consumption is key to preventing heart disease, especially, if the person does not have a family history of this condition,” concluded the cardiologist.
