YOUR HEART DOESN’T LIKE STRESS AND ONE-SIDED LOVE STORIES NEVER WORK!

A wise man once said, “In the battle between heart and the mind, it is always the heart that suffers.” The reason, why you should choose your battles wisely. We are right in the middle of the week, and with the fast-paced lives we are living in, each one of us is at the end of the rope most of the time.

Let me guess, you woke up stressed about your 10 am meeting. Skipped your breakfast as you rushed to work. The 40minute drive was spent cursing the drivers trying to overtake and as you try to park your car, your favorite parking spot has already been taken by the boss. It just couldn’t get better; your in-laws are in town and you need to be back home on time to cook for them. Spend some time with your husband and help your child with the homework. And with every commitment and deadlines comes – STRESS! STRESS! AND STRESS!

If you want to keep the cardiovascular diseases at bay, it is important you keep stress away. While there are numerous articles on stress and more than a hundred self-help books for stress management, I guess like me you will be more interested in knowing what happens to your heart when you are in stress.

How does stress affect your heart?

The Central nervous system oversees your body’s “Fight or Flight” response. At times when things are not going as per your way like you are waiting for an important call, taking an important decision with the high risk involved, “hypothalamus” sends out the stress hormones.

These stress hormones are what triggers the “Fight or Flight” response when the situation arises. Physical changes you can notice in the body in the meantime is a racing heartbeat, tensed muscles, and rapid breathing. While everybody responds differently to stress, these stress hormones, if not managed can put your health at serious risk. Constant exposure to stress hormones can lead to high blood pressure, damage your arteries, higher cholesterol levels, hypertension, and weakened immune system. In the case of acute stress, people who’ve received traumatic news like loss of a child in rare cases suffered an immediate heart attack. The condition is known as “Broken Heart Syndrome.”

Time and again people must have shared with you the basics of how to manage your stress. One can exercise, eat healthily and stay positive, but if you want to keep your Heart Healthy, there is a list of things you should definitely “not do” when you are under stress.

1. Give in to the temptation of eating unhealthy food to calm yourself. Comfort food like ice-creams, cookies, cakes, pizza, and even biryani is something you don’t want to indulge in.
2. Overload yourself with work.
3. Turn to substance abuse and find temporary solace in alcohol or smoke. This might manage your stress but will create future problems like weight management issues, liver damage, and addiction.
4. Cut off from physical activities, people and things you like.
5. Keep thinking and making situations worse in the head. Procrastination will make the situation worse than they can be.

A batsman under stress hits 6 boundaries while another batsman under stress returns to the pavilion on a duck out.  Stress is not completely bad, studies have found it can be a trigger for many to get the best performance. Managing your stress is can save your heart. The heart is one of the most complex organs in the body. Out of so many emotions, your heart feels stress is not the one it likes. So we suggest, it’s high time you get out of this toxic relationship and break-up with the stress!

Disclaimer: The tips and suggestions mentioned in the article have been written for general awareness and should not be considered as professional medical advice. We strongly recommend you consult your doctor or a cardiologist before starting any fitness regime, diet changes, or lifestyle choices that affect your physical or emotional health.