How Stress Affects Your Heart and 7 Ways to Manage It
Chronic stress does not just feel bad — it can be genuinely dangerous for your heart. Understanding the connection between stress and heart disease is the first step toward protecting yourself. How Stress Damages Your Heart When you are stressed, your body releases cortisol and adrenaline. In small doses, these hormones are helpful. But chronic stress keeps these hormones elevated, leading to: Increased blood pressure from sustained vascular tension Higher cholesterol levels as the liver produces more Increased inflammation throughout the body Blood sugar imbalances that promote arterial damage Poor lifestyle choices — stress eating, smoking, excessive alcohol Research published in The Lancet found that people with high stress-related brain activity had a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events. ...