Though it is unavoidable in life, prolonged stress can seriously affect our mental and physical condition. The relationship between stress and heart disease is one of the main issues. Although a good lifestyle is vital, maintaining a healthy heart depends equally on appropriate stress management. Here is where the knowledge of a mental health professional—like a female psychiatrist Chicago—can be quite beneficial.

Stress and the Heart: Their Connection

Cortisol and adrenaline are hormones produced by the body when it feels stressed. During stress, the body reacts through these hormones in the process called the “fight-or-flight” response. It usually contributes to the elevation of blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar levels. Although short-term life depends on this reaction, persistent stress can keep these systems on continual alert. This ongoing burden on the cardiovascular system may result in:

Increased Blood Pressure

Heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease all depend mostly on high blood pressure.

Elevated Cholesterol Levels

Balancing the good and bad cholesterol can be highly challenging during stress. As a result, artery plaque development is most likely to occur.

Weakened Immune System

The weakening of the immune system can occur through chronic stress. It increases your susceptibility to inflammation and infections and therefore triggers heart conditions.

Sleep Disturbances

Sleeping patterns may be altered by stress, which results in insomnia and tiredness. Lack of sleep raises one’s risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.

Psychiatric Help for Stress Management

Medical practitioners with a concentration in mental health are called psychiatrists. They can be quite important in enabling people to control stress and lower their heart disease risk. These are a few ways they might be of assistance:

• Psychiatrists diagnose and treat the underlying causes of stress—such as anxiety, depression, or unresolved trauma.
• Techniques for stress management help patients move through progressive muscular relaxation, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness meditation.
• Improved Way of Life: Mostly helping with heart health, psychiatrists assist patients in following a regular exercise, a balanced diet, and enough sleep.
• Treating Coexisting Conditions: The link between stress and other mental health illnesses, such as anxiety or depression, enables doctors to provide appropriate medication and treatment.

Counseling stress and its underlying causes helps doctors enable individuals to take responsibility for their mental and physical health, therefore reducing their risk of heart disease and allowing better, happier lives.