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Did you know how chronic stress can affect your heart health?
Chronic stress is a physiological or psychological response to long-term internal or external stressors. These stressors, whether real or recalled, have the same effect and trigger a chronic stress response. In life, we face a variety of chronic stressors, including neighborhood environment, financial difficulties, interpersonal tensions, work pressure, and caregiver stress.
These stress responses, such as the "fight or flight" response, are critical to survival and help people respond appropriately when faced with a threat.
However, when these stressors become persistent, stress responses are no longer temporary and they can cause long-term damage to the body. According to research, periodic exposure to stress can cause acute stress reactions to turn into chronic stress. Chronic stress carries with it a hidden cost known as “allostatic load.”
Long-term exposure to stress can lead to persistent increases in stress hormones such as cortisol in the body, which can have negative effects on heart health.
The physiological impact of chronic stress cannot be underestimated. Continuous high pressure can cause a variety of diseases such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Studies have shown that when stress is too high, the nervous system will also be affected, causing mood swings and changes in physical reactions. In these cases, our bodies are unable to recover, causing organs to be in a state of chronic tension and increasing the burden on the heart.
Chronic stress is also closely related to the function of our brain. Studies have shown that long-term stress can inhibit neurogenesis in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, thereby affecting the ability to learn and remember. In this context, the effects of stress are not limited to the psychological level but extend to the entire physiological system.
Chronic stress can cause changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, and a host of other physiological problems, further increasing the risk to heart health.
Faced with such complex problems, it becomes crucial to find effective response strategies. Scholars point out that having a good social support system and effective emotion management skills can enhance an individual's resistance to stress. Resilient people deal with stress in a healthy way, which is especially important in today's fast-paced life.
While research is still ongoing, there is already a lot of evidence showing a strong link between chronic stress and physical health. Caregivers are a prime example, with ample evidence showing that caregivers who experience chronic stress are more likely to suffer from health problems than those who do not experience such stress. Therefore, it is very necessary for everyone to relieve stress appropriately and help maintain physical and mental health.
How do you think we can reduce stress in our lives and keep our hearts healthy?
