Why stress at work is bad for your heart and health

Stress is now considered part of our daily lives. Rush-hour commuting, aggravation at work and financial concerns are just a few of the things we accept as part of our dayto- day living, without thinking about the potential impact on our health. Dr Mehul, Dhinoja, a consultant cardiologist at the Bupa Centre on Basinghall Street and at the centre’s partner hospital, the BMI London Independent, outlines the effect that stress can have on your heart. 

 

All of us will experience stress at some point in our lives, and we all react to it slightly differently. While a little stress can be good for us and spur us on, prolonged stress over a long period of time can play a varied but significant role in heart disease. Its manifestations range from palpitations to potentially life threatening problems like heart failure. Consequently, managing it effectively is as important for your heart health as the drugs prescribed by a cardiologist. 

 

Stressful situations can trigger heart palpitations. These are extremely common and are variously described as a fluttering or pounding in the chest or neck, a sensation of missed heart beats or a sensation of uneasiness or discomfort in the chest. They can also be caused by excessive consumption of caffeine, chocolate or alcohol. If you do experience heart palpitations, it is important to have them investigated which can be done very easily by a cardiologist in clinic. Occasionally in the most severe cases, a period of treatment with medications such as beta blockers may also help. 

 

Stress may also contribute to unhealthy behaviours, such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol, which can increase your risk of heart disease. In addition, unhealthy dietary habits can increase your cholesterol levels, which is another recognised risk factor. No matter how stressed you feel, try to follow a healthy diet, and try to cut out smoking and heavy drinking. These might help you feel calmer at the time, but will harm you in the longer term. 

 

Finally, chronic stress that persists over an extended period of time can elevate blood pressure, affect the activity of blood cells so that they clot more readily, increase levels of stress hormones and affect the immune system. All of these changes may ultimately impact the heart causing longer term problems. Having a regular exercise regime, a healthy diet and trying certain relaxation techniques can help some people deal with this. But it’s advisable to seek advice from a GP or health professional if it continues.