According to a 2019 report, stress levels in Manchester are among the highest in the UK. 53% of Manchester citizens said they felt stressed daily. Stress causes can be found in many places, from family life to money problems and trouble at work. While many may see stress as a purely psychological phenomenon, stress can have physiological effects on the body, too. In other words, there’s a connection between mental health and physical health. As part of our angina treatment in Manchester at Venturi cardiology, we often pay close attention to lifestyle factors affecting heart health. In this article, we’ll look at what the latest scientific research on stress can tell us about heart disease.
Sympathetic Hyperexcitability
In recent research, many patients under the care of an angina diagnosis centre experienced high levels of stress, tension, anxiety and depression before their diagnosis. These conditions led to symptoms of sympathetic hyperexcitability or hyperactivity (SF). SF is a medical term for when the body’s sympathetic nervous system goes into hyperdrive. The sympathetic nerve system plays a role in the body’s response to danger or stress. It causes hormones to flood the body, increasing heart rate, respiration and blood flow. Prolonged exposure to SF can trigger vascular and cardiac injury.
Cardiac and Vascular Injury
Cardiac and vascular injury are terms for when an artery or chamber in the heart is damaged. For example, increased blood flow caused by SF can rupture or disrupt the heart valve. This can trigger cardiac arrest – an abrupt loss of heart functions, heart attacks, and other severe heart conditions. In the worst cases, the heart stops pumping blood and must be restarted to regain function.
Hypertension
The research also suggests that stress is a critical component in the development of hypertension. Hypertension is when the pressure in the blood vessels goes higher than usual. People with hypertension may experience headaches, nose bleeds and many other symptoms. Again, untreated hypertension can cause heart attacks or strokes.
Conclusion
The heart isn’t simply a physical organ. It adapts to the conditions of the body, both sensory and emotional. As a result, the long-term effects of stress are closely related to our heart health. For this reason, angina treatment in Manchester should often begin with looking at factors that affect both mind and body.
At our angina diagnosis centre, we frequently recommend lifestyle changes as part of a holistic approach to heart health. Many of the symptoms of stress often go unnoticed but should be considered in the diagnosis of heart disease.
To learn more about our patient treatment plans, look at our online guide.
