According to cardiologist, endocrinologist and other health care providers, all forms of emotional stress such as depression, worry, anxiety and even anger can lead both indirectly and directly to a heart attack. Women more than men, suffer from a number of these stress related conditions thereby raising the level of risk in women for heart attacks. Handling those stress hormones for better heart health is essential. Your choices regarding sleeping, eating, exercising and just plain resting are absolutely the key to your personal plan for stress reduction.
Know the Stressors and Reduce Them
It's a known fact that women suffer from stress hormone related heart attacks and other health problems directly related to the long term effects of chronic stressors. Stress hormones are hormones released by the endocrine system when triggered by the "Fight or Flight" response in the body. Cortisol, norepinephrine, and GH (growth hormones) can all be responsible for various malfunctions in the body including heart trouble, if they are uncontrolled and misinterpreted by the body. Stress reduction must be practiced frequently to give the body a chance to normalize. A tired body sets herself up to read the chemical and hormonal signals that are meant to protect. A body stretched beyond capacity week after week is missing cues and basically running herself, engine wise, into the ground.
The Love Connection
Women hormonally and by nature, are tuned in to respond emotionally to the rigors of interaction. The very hormones that keep the nesting instincts alive and the cuddle instinct on the burner, can work to our disadvantage when we don't understand how to disengage for our health's sake. Stress reduction is the only answer.
Women have a tendency to hold on to emotional stress longer than men and longer than recommended. When the body is held at a heighten level of emotional stress for a prolonged period of time the stress hormones released by the endocrine system inadvertently attack specific organs causing them to function abnormally and eventually leading to serious complications like heart attacks.
Stress related heart attacks are the number one killer of women, therefore finding methods to handle stress hormones associated with stress related heart attacks is curtail to sustain a strong and healthy heart.
These hormones are meant to prepare the body's reactions to stressful situations that activate functions such as raised metabolisms, increased breathing and tachycardia (fast heart rate). When the body does not return to normal hormonal levels complications arise, including high blood pressure, weight problems, hyperventilation and heart attacks. Reducing stressors for better heart health can be accomplished by considering these few methods.
STRESS REDUCTION TECHNIQUES
Meditation - Much like giving a hyperactive child a time-out, women also require a time-out from time-to-time when dealing with stressful situations. Meditating is a great way to reduce the level of stress hormones in the system, plus it slows down breathing to prevent hyperventilation and restores the heart rates to normal. Simply finding a quiet place to spend at least 10-15 minutes to clear the mind is vital to handling stress and improving heart health. Go online and locate your ideal meditating techniques.
Rest - It is common for women who have a tremendous amount of emotional stress to neglect a very critical component neccessary to remain healthy: Sleep! Most often high levels of stress will manifest in insomnia making the ability to rest difficult; therefore many women, under the pressure of stress hormones, fail to get sufficient rest to help the body recover. Set the stage for an early bedtime, turn off all the emotional stresses of the day and assist the body to naturally handle stress hormones for enhanced wellbeing.
Exercise - Emotional stress can be combated by increasing physical activity. This means conforming to routine exercise, which will help control breathing patterns and condition the heart and lungs, to better handle the stress hormonal effects and promote overall physical fitness. Overall physical fitness is known to help women control stressful situations better; thus allowing better control of stress hormones; improving the heart's functionality and controlling weight that can also lead to heart problems. Exercising is a win-win situation with multiple benefits.
Soothing activities - Gain immediate relief from stress hormones by simply relaxing. Well, maybe not so simple. But worth whatever it takes. While this may seem obvious, most women under emotional stress find relaxing is a difficult task. Find something that calms your emotional state and nerves especially when experiencing anger, worry and anxiety. This will slow down the production and release of the stress hormones. Try taking a soothing hot bath; full body or foot massages are great; or take a short walk, play with an animal like a dog or cat and drink calming teas. Anything that can help put those stress hormones in check.
Finding something to take the mind off of stress and soothe the senses will, without a doubt, alleviate those stress hormone effects for better heart health. Join a gym and consult a trainer. If your health is already impaired, it is always best to consult with a physician on other possible stress reducing methods to promote a healthier heart and longer life spans.
