Heart Disease Stress Tips
Our Caregiving Agency Offers Expert Advice
While stress alone is not solidly linked to heart disease, “stress
may affect behaviours and factors that increase heart disease risk: high
blood pressure and cholesterol levels, smoking, physical inactivity, and
overeating,” according to the American Heart Association. Some people
might smoke or drink alcohol when feeling stressed and, over time, these
habits might contribute to heart disease.
Stress is explained in the book “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic
Conditions” (Bull Publishing, 2012) in the following way: “Your
body is used to functioning at a certain level. When there is a need to
change this level, your body must adjust to meet the demand. It reacts
by preparing to take some action: Your heart rate increases, your blood
pressure rises, your neck and shoulder muscles tense, your breathing becomes
more rapid, your digestion slows, your mouth becomes dry, and you may
begin sweating. These are signals of what we call stress.”
Experts recommend managing stress in a healthy way:
- Relax using meditation, yoga, tai chi, or visualization. There are many classes available in all of these practices to help learn the skills and get the most benefit.
- Exercising, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep can also help with the ability to handle stress.
- Make time for simple pleasure such as reading, playing games, talking to friends, making art, listening to music, or something that is unique to you. Companionship can make a difference in a person’s stress level.
It’s important for everyone to manage stress successfully, not just those at risk for heart disease or who have been diagnosed with heart disease.
Contact us today with any questions you may have about Homewatch CareGivers® and our trusted caregiving services.