For many people, the word stress describes an unpleasant feeling when our life feels overwhelming. However, it’s essential to realize that stress can have negative implications on your heart. At the Integrative Cardiology Center of Long Island, we understand this and want to help. That is why our cardiologists would like to pass along some stress management tips to help you remain healthy and stress-free.

Heart Problems Caused By Stress 

As previously stated, there is a direct relationship between unmanaged stress and the health of your heart. Leaving your feelings of anxiety unchecked can lead to an array of health issues and decrease your quality of life. Our team of expert cardiologists wants you to have a strong understanding of this to understand the importance of dealing with this complication. Some of the most common issues include the below:

  • Increased blood pressure.
  • Unhealthy cholesterol levels.
  • Problems with heart rate.
  • Increased risk of heart disease. 

Understanding Your Stress  

To properly manage your stress, you must first understand how your anxiety affects you. Even though we’ve touched upon how stress affects your heart directly, stress can also lead to certain lifestyle choices, which can cause an indirect impact too. Typical responses to stress can include:

  • Eating to calm down.
  • Drinking too much alcohol.
  • Smoking or using tobacco products.
  • Sleeping too little or too much.
  • Working too much.

Beneficial Tips For Managing Your Stress

Fortunately for even the most stress filled people, there are things you can do to combat this problem. At the Integrative Cardiology Center of Long Island, we want all our patients to remain as healthy as possible. That is why we’d like to pass along some knowledge on ways to achieve this goal. Some of the most beneficial ones include the following:

  • Getting regular exercise,
  • Limiting your intake of foods high in sugar and added fats.
  • Eating more fruits and vegetables.
  • Getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep each night.
  • Consider alternative management options, such as yoga, meditation, and massage therapy.

Contact Us

If you’re someone who has been dealing with stress for many years, you should consider scheduling an appointment with one of our cardiologists. That will allow you to have your heart checked for any damage that stress might have caused. For more information on stress management and why it is so essential for heart health, be sure to contact our team at the Integrative Cardiology Center of Long Island today.