The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 26, Number 6 | Page 37
The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | February 2020
Healthy Living Tips from
How Does Your Heart Handle Stress?
Stress is a normal part of everyday life, but how does your reaction to it affects your heart?
Everyone encounters stressful situations from time to time. But how often you experience stress and how you react to it may have
an impact on your overall health. Unmanaged stress can negatively impact almost every aspect of your life. It can make your body
feel achy, wreak havoc on your sleep, and affect your productivity. Stress has been linked to depression, insomnia, digestive
problems, skin conditions and a weakened immune response. And, as Deborah Heart and Lung Center cardiologist, Denise Zin-
grone, DO, points out: “Chronic stress has also been linked to heart disease.”
Here’s what is known about the connection between stress and heart health:
Chronic stress creates unhealthy levels of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. Constant release of stress hormones
can contribute to heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Adrenaline prepares your body for a “fight or flight” response – so it temporarily increases your heart rate and blood pressure.
When your body constantly experiences stress, this hormone continually keeps your heart rate and blood pressure elevated.
Cortisol appears to play a role in the accumulation of belly fat, which creates a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes.
High levels of stress tend to encourage harmful behaviors such as overeating, drinking too much alcohol, using drugs and
smoking, putting your heart at risk.
Some research links stress to changes in the way blood clots and damage to your arteries, which may increase the risk of a
heart attack.
The bottom line?
Stress isn’t healthy. If you’re stressed out, chances are your heart is, too.
Dr. Zingrone adds: “Finding ways to effectively manage stress can help your heart and improve your overall physical and emo-
tional health. The key to managing stress is identifying the causes of your stress and then coming up with ways to cope with or
avoid them.”
For an appointment with a Deborah Heart and Lung Center specialist: 855-646-3484 or request an
appointment online: www.DemandDeborah.org.
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