High Stress Drives Up Your Risk Of A Heart Attack. Here's How To Chill Out

High Stress Drives Up Your Risk Of A Heart Attack. Here's How To Chill Out

Allison Aubrey

Work Stress. Home Stress. Financial Stress.

The toll of chronic stress isn't limited to emotional suffering. High stress can set the stage for heart disease.

In fact, research shows that those of us who perceive a lot of stress in our lives are at higher risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems over the long term.

Schiffrin says he gives his patients this advice: Eat in a healthy way, attempt to have good relationships, have a good attitude, spend time in nature, and exercise. "I think exercise is critical," Schiffrin says.
Let's take a closer look at each of these.

• Exercise: When researchers analyzed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey data from more than a million adults in the U.S., they found that people who exercised reported fewer days of bad mental health compared to those who didn't exercise. And, as we've reported, there was an extra 'boost' in mental health linked to playing team sports. But whether you choose a simple walk, forest-bathing, or a group activity, who doesn't feel a little better after moving their body?
  
• Cultivate friendships: Loneliness is an epidemic. And, as we've reported, a recent survey found 2 in 5 respondents reported lacking companionship or said they felt isolated from others. Yet, spending time with friends can really boost our mood. No matter your stage of life, signing up for a group activity or volunteering are good options for getting and staying engaged in the community around you.
  
• Learn meditation or relaxation techniques: Mindfulness meditation has been shown to tamp down the stress response and even help reduce blood pressure among people who can maintain the habit. As we've reported, one study found that meditation helped 40 out of 60 patients reduce their blood pressure enough to reduce some of their medications.
  
• Eat well: There is indeed a link between food and mood. As we've reported, a diet full of refined carbohydrates and sugar (the sort you'll find in packaged snacks and sodas) can lead to a metabolic roller coaster that can influence your mood, too. On the other hand, a Mediterranean-style diet — rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish — can leave you feeling nourished.
  
• Seek help for anxiety disorders: These day-to-day habits may help reduce the amount of stress you feel, but for people with stress disorders such as PTSD, it may be best to reach out to a professional for help. "People should treat their mental health issues," says Bacon. You don't have to "grin and bear it." Mental health professionals have lots of tools.
  

"You don't want to put yourself in a position where you could make your health worse by not doing anything," Bacon says.