Stress has been linked to many chronic health conditions. This includes obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. It is not the stress itself that is the problem. Stress becomes a factor when you reach a point where you feel you can no longer cope. If you are feeling stressed on a regular basis, your body remains in a constant state of activation, which can eventually lead to health problems, including heart disease.
Identification
When you feel stressed, there is an actual physiological response in the body called the fight or flight syndrome. Whenever your body determines that there is threat to your well being, whether it is an actual event that is occurring or something you are worrying about, your body kicks into action to help you deal with the situation.
Theories/Speculation
Researchers are not exactly sure about the role stress plays in heart disease. There are theories that when you feel stressed, you may have a tendency to overeat, smoke and exercise less. All of these lifestyle choices can be risk factors for developing .
Increased Blood Pressure and Heart Rate
When your body stimulates the fight or flight response, it also raises your blood pressure and increases your heart rate. This is necessary to provide your muscles and brain with the blood and oxygen they need to respond. If you constantly feel stressed, then your blood pressure is constantly elevated.
Increased Levels of Cholesterol
In order to provide your body with the energy it needs to respond, fatty acids are released into the bloodstream. Over time, these fatty acids can accumulate in the blood, leading to high cholesterol levels.
Cortisol and Fat Deposits
When you are under stress, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol plays a role in where fat is stored in the body and it tends to deposit fat in the abdominal area. People who carry extra fat in the abdominal area are at a higher risk of heart disease.
Considerations
Since stress is a part of daily life, learning techniques to manage it are essential to help turn off the fight or flight syndrome. The negative effects of stress occur when you do not take a break from it. Learning to calm the body and mind, will in turn calm the fight or flight syndrome activity. This allows the body to return to a resting state and ward off any negative health effects.
Tags: your body, heart disease, fight flight, feel stressed, , flight syndrome