5pm
Tuesday 29 November 2022
Dr Martin Lowe, consultant cardiologist at the ‘Harley Street’ clinic, has warned that those suffering from a lot of stress, sadness and anger can seriously damage their heart health, explaining that these feelings can put a person at greater risk for heart failure. sudden called cardiomyopathy Stress cardiomyopathy, otherwise known as broken heart syndrome (Takotsubo syndrome) and other fatal heart diseases.
Stress cardiomyopathy occurs when the left side of the heart, the main chamber for pumping blood around the body, changes and enlarges.
This condition is called broken heart syndrome because it is often associated with severe bouts of sadness and depression, and can sometimes be fatal, “Russia Today” reported.
These feelings can affect the heart as when an individual is depressed, the body produces many stress hormones which lead to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
Dr Lowe also explained that “psychosocial factors such as pain and depression can all contribute to heart attacks, heart disease and cardiac arrest.”
Dr Lowe warned: ‘Many studies have shown that the risk of a heart attack actually increases within 24 hours of losing a loved one. The heart is under tremendous stress and emotions such as anger can cause an irregular heartbeat. But it’s not just the surge of intense emotions that can damage the heart Heart damage can develop as a result of prolonged exposure to stress hormones.
Dr Lowe added: ‘Stress can cause a chain of negative reactions in your body. If you’re angry, stressed or frustrated, your body’s natural response is to release stress hormones. These include cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare your body to deal with stress. Speeds up your heart rate to help push blood to the center of your body as blood vessels constrict. After the stress eases, your blood pressure and heart rate should begin to slow down and return to normal. However, if you’re constantly tense, it limits your body’s recovery time and can lead to damage to your artery walls.
Lowe added that mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, are known to increase the risk of death in people who already have heart disease.
Studies have shown that heart patients who suffer from anxiety are twice as likely to die within three years of heart disease.
“Patients often become depressed after a heart disease diagnosis that can actually increase the risk of an adverse cardiac event occurring within that year,” Lowe continued.
What are the symptoms that stress damages the heart?
The British Heart Foundation explains that the symptoms of cardiomyopathy can appear similar to those of a heart attack.
Sudden, severe chest pain and shortness of breath are signs that affect people with both conditions. The person may also experience heart palpitations and feel sick.
