Stress - Can It Impact Your Heart?

Stress does not affect everyone in the same way. The effects of stress are influenced by a person s diet and lifestyle. The way you think also plays an important role in determining the effects of stress on your body. To ease stress, do not take on more than you can handle and learn to say no . Take time off for yourself without feeling guilty about it to ease the effects of stress.

Stress can be managed in many ways. Meditating for half an hour at the start of each day can calm your mind and prepare it for the day s work. In addition, eat a balanced diet, get plenty of rest and find time to exercise daily. Ideally, a person should exercise for at least half an hour every day but if you cannot find time to do that, break it down into smaller slots. Instead of taking the elevator, climb the stairs or park your car a little farther from your office to make exercising a part of your routine.

What you eat plays an important role in how you deal with stress. While some foods increase the levels of hormones that can fight stress other reduce the production of hormones that trigger stress. Some foods can also make you feel more focused and thereby raise your productivity levels. Food that is rich in antioxidants can also help lower blood pressure and cortisol levels thus fighting stress. Fish, nuts, dark chocolate and tea are some foods that can help relieve stress.

Stress can cause a number of health problems including a higher risk of cardiovascular problems. Stress can affect the health of your heart both directly and indirectly by weakening the heart tissues, increasing cholesterol and blood pressure etc. Stress can also increase adrenaline and cortisol production and take them to an unhealthy level. To protect yourself from the harmful effects of stress find ways of dealing with it through exercise, meditation etc.