Stress and heart health

Feeling stressed for short periods of time isn’t likely to harm your heart health. However long-term stress can raise your risk of heart disease. Find out about the impact of stress on heart health and how you can manage it.

A man sits on a porch looking distressed, while a woman stands nearby holding a child, surrounded by cardboard moving boxes, suggesting a stressful moving day or life transition.

What is stress?

Stress is your body’s natural response to pressure or challenging situations. It can be triggered by external events like work deadlines or relationship problems, or internal thoughts or feelings. 

Everyone experiences stress at different times, however the way we respond to it can make a big difference to our overall wellbeing. 

Short term stress versus chronic stress

Short-term stress (acute stress) is a short-term response to an immediate situation, like an argument or a job interview. It causes the ‘fight or flight’ response which increases the amount of adrenaline in your body. 

Chronic stress is when stress continues over a longer period – days, weeks or months. When you have chronic stress, it increases your levels of a hormone called cortisol.  

Does stress increase your risk of heart disease?

Short-term stress triggers the release of adrenaline in your body, which causes temporary increases in your heart rate and your blood pressure. It does not negatively affect your heart health.  

However, when stress continues over a long period of time (chronic stress), it can be bad for your heart health. 

Increased levels of cortisol can increase inflammation in your body. Over time, this can damage your blood vessels, which increases your risk of heart disease. 

Stress can also lead to other heart disease risk factors including: 

  • poor sleep 
  • increased alcohol intake and smoking 
  • decrease in exercise 
  • unhealthy eating habits. 

Impact of stress on blood pressure

Short-term stress causes a temporary spike in blood pressure. Once the stress has passed, your blood pressure returns to normal. 

However, long-term stress can increase unhealthy habits such as drinking too much alcohol and lack of exercise, which can cause long-term high blood pressure. 

Long-term high blood pressure, also called hypertension, increases your risk of heart disease.

Does stress cause heart attacks?

Stress alone can’t cause a heart attack.  

However, if your response to stress is unhealthy habits such as drinking too much alcohol, smoking, or a poor diet, this will increase your risk of a heart attack. 

Stress can also play a role in other kinds of heart conditions. 

Severe stress can lead to a heart condition called takotsubo cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome). 

Extreme stress can also be a risk factor for spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).  

Stress symptoms

Common symptoms for stress include: 

  • feeling irritable, anxious or overwhelmed 
  • difficulty concentrating or making decisions 
  • trouble sleeping or feeling tired all the time 
  • headaches, muscle tension or stomach problems 
  • changes in appetite (eating more or less) 
  • increased heart rate or palpitations 
  • avoiding social situations or activities you used to enjoy. 

Tips to lower stress

Two people are sitting outdoors on wooden benches, enjoying hot drinks together in a relaxed setting surrounded by trees and a tall wooden fence.
  • Talk about your feelings with friends, family or a health professional. 
  • Exercise regularly, even a short daily walk can help. 
  • Plan enjoyable activities and make time for hobbies. 
  • Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness or meditation. 
  • Prioritise sleep and maintain a regular sleep schedule. 
  • Eat well, including lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. 

When to get help

Everyone experiences stress sometimes, but usually it won’t damage your heart in the short term. 

If your stress is negatively affecting your daily life, or if you’re worried it might cause anxiety or depression, talk to your doctor or nurse.

Talking to your doctor about stress

Here are some questions that may be helpful when talking to your doctor or nurse about stress: 

  • What options do I have for managing my stress? 
  • Which of the options to lower my stress will best fit into my life? 
  • What are the benefits and risks of each option for me? 
  • Has this helped anyone else? 
  • Where can I get support? 

Are there any other questions you have that you would like to ask? 

Further information and support 

Relaxation techniques 

Lower your risk of heart disease