A 60-year-old bookkeeper with heart disease collapsed when she heard the news: Her son had been badly injured in an automobile accident. When the paramedics arrived, they found she had a severe form of heart arrhythmia.
After the woman was successfully resuscitated, the paramedics transported her to the hospital for an evaluation. The findings revealed the main cause of her erratic heart beats was acute stress.
Can emotional shock really hurt your heart? The surprising answer is yes.
Growing evidence suggests that acute emotional stress may have harmful effects on the heart. Though no one knows exactly how this happens, scientists are starting to piece the puzzle together.
There are simple steps, I’m happy to add, that can help shield your heart from the harmful effects of stress.
Stress effects on heart
When we’re under stress, our bodies respond with the “fight or flight” reaction. Levels of the stress-hormone adrenaline increase, blood pressure climbs, and our pulse rate may skyrocket.
These changes increase the oxygen supply to vital parts of the body — a good thing if you need to attack an enemy or make an escape. But there is a downside.
Your body’s preparedness to survive stress, which these days is rarely a life-or-death situation, may increase the workload on your heart. In susceptible people, the added strain on the heart may trigger the following problems:
Arrhythmias. Stress causes chemical messages from the brain to the heart to be delivered more powerfully and unevenly, increasing the likelihood that abnormal heart rhythms will occur.
According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, at least 20 percent of serious arrhythmias or sudden heart deaths are triggered by intense or unusual emotional stress.
Contraction problems. High levels of stress hormones may temporarily shock or stun the heart. The heart then has trouble pumping blood normally and efficiently around the body.
Angina and heart attacks. Spasm of heart arteries due to stress may lead to deficient blood flow to the heart.
Lack of a sufficient, oxygen-rich blood supply can trigger chest pains or a heart attack. These heart problems are twice as likely to occur when people feel tense, frustrated or depressed compared to when they’re calm, research indicates.
Ways to manage stress
Stress can cause abnormal rhythms, heart attack, heart failure, or sudden death in people who may not even know they have heart disease.
Be good to your heart with these simple steps to help prevent and manage stress.
When possible, avoid exposing yourself to situations you find very stressful.
Participate in daily physical activities to relieve stress. If you’re unaccustomed to exercise, first get your doctor’s OK.
Eat a nutritious diet containing fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains.
Don’t smoke at all; use alcohol only in moderation.
Get social support. Discussing problems with family or friends can help clarify and release your feelings.
Take time each day for quiet endeavors such as reading, listening to music, meditation or contemplation. Deep breathing, relaxation exercises, hypnosis, biofeedback, visual imagery, prayer or yoga are other techniques known to help manage stress.
See your doctor if anxiety, depression or stress frequently get you down. Measures to improve your emotional health may also prove beneficial for your heart.
If you have heart disease or rhythm abnormalities, consult with your doctor about treatments to protect your heart. Some medications can blunt the damage stress brings.
For more information: American Heart Association, www.americanheart.org.
Contact Dr. Elizabeth Smoots, a board-certified family physician and fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, at doctor@practicalprevention.com. Her columns are not intended as a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Before adhering to any recommendations in this column consult your health care provider.
&Copy; 2007 Elizabeth S. Smoots
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