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Will stress hurt my heart?
Many of us have jokingly said, "I was so upset I could have died," and
studies have been conducted over the past 20 years to look at the links between emotions
and illness. In studies with monkeys, blood levels of chemicals which produce excitement
were found in a well known phenomenon called "fight or flight" patterns. These
patterns can be brought on in an active attempt to cope with stress, and the result of
experiencing this defensive reaction over a long period of time can increase various
chemicals in the body which may actually be dangerous to the cardiovascular system.
Consequently, it is important to find methods of controlling our emotional reaction to
stress in an effort to delay or prevent it from causing physical illness. This requires an
active role on the part of the stressed individual to change their behavior to preserve
their health. Possible methods of achieving this goal would be counseling in the
prevention of stress-related behavior, anger management, relaxation tapes, breathing
methods, developing an exercise program such as yoga or other types of emotion-calming
exercises, and possible dietary changes.
People's response to stress is quite variable however. There is a subcategory of
persons who are often referred to as "hot reactors". Under stress, these
individuals tend to have a marked elevation of blood pressure, thus predisposing them to
coronary events. Many of these people, known as Type A personalities, seem to have a high
sense of urgency and a very strong work ethic. A component of hostility towards their
environment or circumstances in this group of individuals also seems to heighten their
tendency towards heart attack and stroke. The opposite type of personality, that is, a
"whistle-while-you-work" type of person, may find work to be a very positive
part of life and may not suffer from it effects, even if working long hours and having a
strong commitment to achieving success.
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