Stress

"Stress" response describes the condition caused by a person's reaction to physical, chemical, emotional or environmental factors. Stress can refer to physical effort and/ or emotional stress. All people feel stress, but they feel it in different amounts and react to it in different ways.  It is this wide variation in reaction to stress that makes it difficult for the medical community to establish standard norms.  However, it is a fact that high levels of stress for an extended period of time can take it's toll on cardiovascular health.

Our bodies are designed to direct energy to the part of the body that it is needed the most.  For example, if you catch a cold then your body is going to focus on the immune system to help the body heal it's self.  However, if you have a surge of stress your body will begin to create adrenaline and all energy sources will be directed to your muscles.  If you are running away from something or someone this is very useful but if you are sitting in your car stressing over the vehicle that just cut in front of you then are creating a domino effect that could end with heart damage.

Adrenaline is the number one stress hormone; it speeds up the heart beat, breathing and metabolic rate to give us a necessary rush of extra energy. Adrenaline is produced and stored in our two adrenal glands that are situated on top of the kidneys and with long-term stress these glands will deplete.
 
Surges in adrenaline caused by severe emotional stress can cause a spike in fatty acids and glucose in the blood which makes the blood prone to clot more readily.  With the added fats in the blood the heart has to work even harder to pump the blood throughout the circulatory system which contributes to high blood pressure/ chronic hypertension and raised cholesterol levels.  Plaque build-up, high blood pressure, high cholesterol all increase the risk of heart attack.

Emotional stress related disorders also lead to negative life style choices.  Stress increases the likelihood of smoking, using caffeinated foods & beverages and compulsive eating/ over-eating.  It is important to try to avoid stress when possible.