The Sutter Delta Blog http://sutterdeltamedicalcenter.posterous.com on Posterous posterous.com Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:36:42 -0700 Relax: Your Heart May Depend on It http://sutterdeltamedicalcenter.posterous.com/relax-your-heart-may-depend-on-it http://sutterdeltamedicalcenter.posterous.com/relax-your-heart-may-depend-on-it

Relax: Your Heart May Depend on It

Published: May 18, 2010

A woman relaxing on the grass on a sunny day.

Shrugging off stress and finding a brighter outlook may do more than make it easier to smile—it may lead to a healthier heart.

A recent study published in the European Health Journal found that adults with a positive outlook on life may be less likely to develop heart disease.

Doctors have long cautioned their patients to pay attention to heart disease’s best-known risk factors:

  • family history
  • high blood pressure
  • high cholesterol
  • obesity
  • alcohol and tobacco use

But there are many other pieces to the heart-health puzzle, and research is starting to show that your emotional well-being and your heart’s physical health may be more closely related than we realized.

The physical effects of stress

  • high blood pressure
  • elevated cholesterol levels
  • damage to the arteries
  • irregular heart rhythm

Overtime these physical effects can lead to heart disease or a heart attack.

But there may be some ways to naturally reduce the effects, and the first step is to recognize the symptoms of serious stress.

Recognizing long-term stress

  • anxiety or anger
  • loneliness or depression
  • headaches or tension
  • sleeplessness
  • difficulty making decisions
  • excessive drinking or smoking

Once you recognize the warning signs, you can learn to take control.

Overcoming your stress

Take a break

Set aside some time each day to relax. Read a book, take a walk, soak in a hot bath or see a movie. Schedule your break time as you would any other appointment and you‘ll be more likely to stick to the plan.

Exercise

Move your body a little bit each day. You‘ll feel better and you‘ll sleep better too.

Tell your doctor

If you feel unable to handle the stress on your own, talk to your doctor. Together you can come up with a plan to deal with the issues in your life.

Sometimes group or individual therapy can also be helpful, and in the case of severe depression, medication along with self-monitoring tools can also help.

By taking stock of the things in your life that are causing you stress, you can begin to live a healthier, more balanced, and ultimately happier life.

Alejandro Prieto M.D. is a board certified interventional cardiologist and cardiovascular specialist. He is affiliated with Sutter Delta Medical Center.

Related Links

[Image Credit: mararie]

  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Google Buzz

  • StumbleUpon

  • Delicious

  • Share/Bookmark

Related posts:

  1. The Truth About Healthy Hearts

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this article!

Leave a Reply

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/544331/SutterDelta18.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvBWqdt3YYh sutter delta medical center sutter delta medical center