STRESS AND HEART ATTACKS!

If you want to boost your heart health, you need to do more than eat right and exercise. Go one step further and ease your mind.

Long-term stress has an indirect effect on your risk for heart problems, says Deepak Bhatt, MD.

“You’ve got a crazy job, you’re working awful hours, you’re not eating right, not exercising, you’re smoking, you’re drinking excessively. These can all trigger various forms of heart disease.”

How Stress Hurts Your Heart

When you’re under stress, your body releases hormones that make your heart work harder.

When your body responds this way, day in and day out, the effects can add up. It triggers inflammation that could lead to the buildup of plaque in the arteries. That can cause a heart attack or stroke.

Some people react to stress with unhealthy habits, too. For instance, when you’re under pressure, you may overeat or turn to high-calorie or high-fat “comfort” food. That can make you feel less in the mood to exercise.

If you’re a smoker, you might reach for your cigarettes more often. You may also be tempted to drink alcohol.

 Put Things in Perspective

Remember, the right attitude is key to ease pressure. Don’t “stress” about stress.

“Focus on what you can control — your activity, your disposition, your attitude,” Crowder says.

Source: http://www.webmd.com