February is Heart Month and a great time to remember that a beating heart is not necessarily a healthy heart. Approximately 84 million people in this country suffer from some form of heart disease. Almost one out of three deaths is the result of cardiovascular disease.
Most people know the key measures we can take to help prevent heart disease:
- Eat healthy
- Get exercise
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Quit smoking
- Control cholesterol and blood pressure
In fact, these are commonly recommended measures to improve health in general. But there is one more to add to this list that we don’t often think about: Manage Stress.
Many years ago a renowned cardiologist told me that stress killed more of his patients than anything else. It’s a sneaky killer. Many people become so accustomed to their high stress lives that they don’t even notice how it is affecting their health. Normal levels of stress can help you stay focused and alert. It keeps you on your toes at work or drives you to get things done at home. But constant stress, or chronic stress, over a period of time can contribute to long-term problems for the heart and blood vessels, not to mention numerous other health issues.
So what causes stress and what can we do about it? Every person is different. Some of us can just deal with a stressful event and let it roll off our back, yet others have a complete meltdown over a simple but frustrating situation. Some of the top triggers for stress are major life changes, relationship difficulties, and financial problems. Internal causes can be chronic worry, ridged thinking or unrealistic expectations. The most common factor in all of these triggers is an inherent sense that things are out of our control.
Just as stress triggers are different for different people, so are the ways we deal with it. Human beings often are self-destructive. Under stress we drink too much to unwind, chain smoke, and binge on comfort food, all things that increase blood pressure and may damage artery walls. There are plenty of healthier and more effective ways to cope with stress. You just have to find the thing that works best for you. Rhythmic exercise, like walking, swimming or dancing, has been proven to help shift attention and release nervous energy. Laughter really is the best medicine. Watch a favorite funny film to shift your mood. Engaging with friends and doing something enjoyable can improve your outlook. Even just taking time alone to do something relaxing like taking a bubble bath or listening to music can shake off stress.
To help you avoid the worry and stress of managing your health it is wise to have regular visits with your healthcare provider. At Careteam+ we develop a healthcare plan that is unique to your needs, help you manage chronic conditions and help prevent dire health issues like heart disease. The list of heart disease prevention methods mentioned above still applies. Putting these heart healthy practices in place along with learning to manage stress will keep the beat alive for years to come.
