The Effect Of Chronic Stress On Your Heart

With stress acting as a common risk factor for 75%-90% of diseases, Echelon Health’s founder and Cambridge-laureate Dr Paul Jenkins shares the below on the importance on preventative health when it comes to chronic stress and your heart.

Whilst some stress can be good for you, challenging your body, keeping you alert, motivated, and ready to avoid danger, research shows that too much stress can also make you ill and worsen certain symptoms or diseases, having negative effects on your mood, immune and digestive systems, and cardiovascular health in particular. One of the main concerns of chronic stress is a risk of a heart attack. Over time an increased heart rate and high blood pressure damage your arteries, which could increase your chance of having a heart attack or stroke.

1) Are there any ways you can reduce the negative effects of stress?

Regular exercise is an excellent way of reducing chronic severe stress, as is meditation and yoga. Engaging in a relaxing hobby which you are interested in, social contact and laughter are excellent additional ways. Many people find a walk with appreciation of nature may be very beneficial. 

2) How do you carry out a heart scan?

Our scan of your heart is divided into two main elements. The first, a CT Heart Scan (Calcium Score) examines your overall heart arteries for any calcium deposition, the earliest sign of atheromatous disease (commonly known as 'furring up' of the arteries). The lower your calcium score, the less at risk you are of a future heart event.

The second part of the cardiac assessment is the CT coronary angiogram which takes incredibly detailed views of the inside of the heart arteries and can determine the precise site of any furring up and the degree of any narrowing of the arteries. It is also the only means of determining the presence of so-called 'soft' plaque, which is that most likely to rupture and cause a heart attack

3) If damage to the arteries is found from chronic stress, can it be reversed?

The damage to heart arteries may be reversed but more importantly, if it is found at an early stage, is to prevent it from worsening or at least slow its rate of progression.

4) What are the next steps, if negative effects from chronic stress are detected?

If the early stages of coronary artery disease are detected, it may just require a change in lifestyle measures, such as reducing fat and excess alcohol intake, or increasing cardiovascular exercise. More significant signs may require medications such as statins, as well as addressing blood pressure. Severe cases may require insertion of a stent across the area of narrowing.