Stress is a huge part of everyday life. We often feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with a busy workload, monthly bills, and family issues. When we become stressed, our heart will often start racing, and we will wonder if our stress levels are causing our blood pressure to increase. Let’s take a look at what is actually going on with our bodies.
The Rush
Our body acts like an emergency alarm system when we experience a stressful situation such as a heated argument or a stressful traffic jam. Our brain will activate the alarm system, causing a rush of stress hormones to surge through our body. This will mainly consist of adrenaline and cortisol.
This causes our heart to beat rapidly and causes our blood vessels to constrict. Therefore causing a rapid increase in our heart rate. However, once the situation has finished and we have calmed down, our body will relax, and our blood pressure will return to normal (American Heart Association).
The Long-Term Damage
While short-term increases in our numbers are not a concern, constantly worrying can cause issues. Doctors are still researching whether constant worrying can cause permanent high blood pressure. However, constantly being in a panicky state will cause damage to our health.
Constant tension in our arteries can cause damage over time (Mayo Clinic Health Information Hub).
Bad Lifestyle Choices
The main risk to our heart caused by our emotions is due to our own choices. When we become extremely stressed, we often abandon our healthy habits and adopt unhealthy ones. This can include:
• Eating lots of salty and greasy fast food
• Not going to the gym or going for a walk for at least 10-20 minutes daily
• Drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes
• Not getting a good night’s sleep due to tossing and turning
These lifestyle choices are the actual cause of permanent high blood pressure (National Institutes of Health Database).
Ways to Help Your Heart
While we cannot remove all the stress from our lives, we can control how we deal with it. Controlling our daily stress is one of the best things we can do for our heart.
Simple, free habits such as going outside for a short walk, taking some deep breaths, or saying no to extra work can help (World Health Organization Mental Health Guides). Taking 10 minutes to unwind can help to reduce our pulse and give our arteries a break.
The Real Truth
While stress will cause our blood pressure to increase quickly, how we deal with it will determine how our heart is affected. By avoiding greasy comfort foods, monitoring our lifestyle choices, and finding simple ways to relax, we are protecting our body from the inside.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional or cardiologist if you have any questions about a medical condition or changes to your blood pressure.
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