The connection between stress and heart disease has been clinically demonstrated by numerous published research studies.

Stress and heart disease
Medical study has shown there is a strong relationship between stress and heart disease. Stress may cause elevated blood pressure that may put some individuals at a greater risk for heart disease.

The connection between stress and heart disease has been recognized since the distant past. It has been clinically demonstrated by numerous published research studies.

Persistent stress is linked to:

Lack of control over situations

Inadequate social support

Failure to express oneself

Poor coping skills

Poor health habits, such as inactivity, eating unhealthy foods, consuming too much alcohol or smoking

During the stress response, the autonomic nervous system releases adrenaline. This sets up a whole cascade of reactions your heart rate and blood pressure soar and your blood sugar rises to furnish fuel for energy.

Your blood is shunted away from the stomach to the large muscles of the arms and legs, to provide more strength in struggle, or greater speed in running away from a scene of a possible danger.

Repeated stress contributes to consistently elevated blood pressure. Over time, it drains your body of magnesium, potassium, and essential nutrients, which further leads to hypertension.

Are stress and heart disease connected? Stress is a normal part of life. But if left uncontrolled, stress can lead to emotional, psychological, and even physical problems, including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, chest pains, or irregular heart beats.

People react in different ways to events and situations. Sometimes, people may handle stress in ways that make bad situations worse by reacting with feelings of anger, guilt, fear, hostility, anxiety and moodiness. Others may face life's trials with ease.

Stress can be caused by a physical or emotional change, or a change in your environment that requires you to change or respond. Things that make you feel stressed are called "stressors."

Stressors can be minor hassles, major lifestyle changes or a combination of both. Being able to identify stressors in your life and letting go of the tension they cause are the answers to managing stress.

Below are some common stressors that can affect people at all stages of life.

• Illness, either personal or of a family member or friend
• Death of a friend or loved one
• Problems in a personal relationship
• Work overload
• Starting a new job
• Unemployment
• Retirement
• Pregnancy
• Crowds
• Relocation
• Daily hassles
• Legal problems
• Financial concerns
• Perfectionism

First identify the stressor.

Avoid minor irritations if possible. If traffic jams cause you stress, try taking a different route, riding the train or bus or car-pooling.

When you experience a change in your life, try to continue doing the things that you enjoyed before the change occurred.

Learn time management effectively, but be practical and flexible when you plan your schedule.

Concentrate in doing one task at a time.

Take a break when your stressors pile up.

Ask for help if you are unable to deal with stress on your own.

But if left unmanaged, stress can lead to emotional, psychological, and even physical problems, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, angina and irregular heart beats, and even death.

You can take an active roll in the health of your heart by controlling how you react to the stress in your life.