Stress and the Heart

When the body is under stress, certain chemicals and hormones (eg, adrenaline and cortisol) are released into the body which can increase blood pressure and encourage clotting in the arteries. This in turn may trigger a heart event such as angina or a heart attack, particularly if the person already has atherosclerosis (fatty deposits that have built up on the walls of the arteries). 

Research is growing that indicates that in certain cases stress may more directly affect the heart perhaps causing plaque build up and clotting.  For instance, there is evidence that certain types of work situations can contribute to coronary heart disease in some people. (1)

It is also known that being poor, living a chronically stressful life, social isolation and depression increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.(2)

It is not always possible to change our jobs or other situations which make us stressful, but we can take effective steps to manage the stress. 

Sometimes people try and cope with stress in ways that can further affect their health and increase their risk of heart disease such as smoking, drinking, eating too much or eating the wrong foods or not getting any exercise.

Stress combined with these other risk factors for heart disease, can act together to lead to ill health and coronary heart disease.

1. Stress and your heart. British Heart Foundation. 2004
2. World Heart Atlas, World Heart Federation.