Healthy Habits for a Healthy Heart – Stress Management

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The risks of developing cardiovascular disease can be reduced by adopting a new lifestyle, which involves shifting from certain habits to others.

We know that there are factors that increase these risks. Some of them, such as age and gender, cannot be modified.

Others can be modulated, for instance, hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. The treatment aims to achieve the target values established by clinical research.

Finally, modifying certain lifestyle habits has shown undeniable benefits in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

The following article bears on stress management.

You may wish to read the topics below from the same series:

Stress Management

Chronic stress is associated with an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction.

Recognizing the sources of stress in our lives is the first step in helping to manage it. Try to focus on the things you can handle and commit to letting go of those that are beyond your control.

Show resilience in the face of challenges by trusting in fate.

There are no successes or failures in life, only experiences, whether good or bad, they teach us valuable lessons.

Health Is Fragile Indeed

We should not wait for medical problems to appear before admitting that some of our ways need to change: the influence of our lifestyle habits on our health, the need to better manage our stress, the importance we should place on our health in the future, and so on.

Depression Can Increase the Risks

Unfortunately, statistics show that close to 20% of people who suffered a myocardial infarction show symptoms of depression after hospitalization.  

Depression can increase the risk of recurrent cardiac events, which is why it is important to acknowledge the symptoms and discuss them with your doctor. Symptoms of depression include:

  1. continuous depressive mood;
  2. no longer enjoy usual activities;
  3. fluctuations in weight and appetite;
  4. loss of attention and concentration;
  5. feeling guilt-ridden and having low self-esteem;
  6. disturbed sleep (too much or too little);
  7. loss of energy, feelings of fatigue;
  8. suicidal thoughts or suicide attempt(s).
 

Recognizing these signs and acting quickly can help prevent further complications.

Stress Management Strategies

  1. Mindfulness Meditation: This proven practice allows you to reconnect with your body in the present moment.
  2. Heart Coherence: In just five minutes, this technique can reprogram your breathing and lower your heart rate.
  3. Support Network: Having someone to confide in or a strong support network can lighten the burden of stress.
  4. Community Involvement: If you feel isolated, explore available resources in your community. Volunteering can be an excellent way to meet new people.
  5. Consult a Psychologist: If you feel the need, don’t hesitate to consult a mental health professional.
  6. Cardiac Rehabilitation Program: If eligible, this program, supervised by professionals, will help you adopt healthier lifestyle habits at your own pace with tailored guidance.

 

These strategies can help reduce stress and improve your overall well-being.