Stress - Can It Really Cause Heart Disease?

A recent heart patient illustrates this question.  John, a middle-aged man with a ruddy complexion and large eyes, had been admitted to the hospital on my cardiology practice   because of terrible pains that gripped his chest.  The pain was in fact a heart attack, quite a large one.  

Oddly, he possessed no real risk factors for heart disease.  He didn't smoke, have high blood pressure, or admit to a family history of heart disease.  Even his cholesterol was normal.

After taking a detailed history, the only thing I could come up with as a cause of his heart attack was stress.  His dog, the only real thing in life he cherished, had recently died.  He wasn't married, and didn't have children.  Even his parents were gone.  His pet golden retriever had recently been hit by a car.

His grief following the loss was so encompassing, so burdensome that it had created an anvil like weight across his chest.  When the pain became unbearable he'd scurried to the Emergency Department.

Is it possible that stress alone- in this case overwhelming grief, can cause actual heart disease?

All of us are familiar with the stress of modern day living.  With both adults frequently working, the typical American family must juggle shopping, work, kid's activities, and a host of other essential tasks.   It isn't unusual to rise early, perform under pressure for long hours at work and then come home to face even more duties. 

The constant and seemingly endless hectic pace can numb the body and the mind.
Such stress is all too familiar, but can it actually lead to illness?  Can it truly be bad for your heart? 

A publication in the British Medical Journal has given undeniable proof that stress is indeed harmful to our heart health.  They followed hundreds of research participants for up to seven years and found that people who had subjective feelings of being "over burdened" at work, or performed repetitive activities with no chance for advancement- these people developed nearly three times the heart disease as people who didn't have this type of stress. 

They also found that the chances of suffering a life ending heart attack were also 2-3 times higher.

So what can we do about the feeling of being, "overwhelmed," or "not being able to take it any more?"  Is there hope for hearts that are crying?

The answer is "Yes."   You don't have to become a medical statistic and suffer a heart attack because of stress.

The first step for avoiding this tragedy is to acknowledge your troublesome feelings.      Recognize that you are exhausted or have difficulty. 

Next, seek help.  One of the reasons I've created this web site is to provide a resource for who people with psychological and emotional difficulties.

My Audio CD program:  "How to Heal Your Broken Heart- Your 3 Step Method for Finding Greater Love" is a good starting place to get you feeling better.  My book, "How to Heal Your Broken Heart- A Cardiologist's Secrets for Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Health"  offers a practical technique for reducing stress and healing your heart. 

Yet many other methods for overcoming stress exist.  Yoga, meditation, or counseling can be effective.  Hey, just a massage can be a great way to being breaking the cycle of emotional overwhelm.

Just by knowing that stress can be harmful to your heart's health can be the motivation you need to begin seeking help.

I invite you to download my Free Special Report- 3 Simple Steps for Improving Your Heart Health at: http://www.drlaman.com/online_store.html

I wish you all the best in your journey towards greater heart health.

Dr. Kirk Laman

Kirk Laman, D.O. is a practicing cardiologist whose interest is in helping people heal their whole-heart. He is an author, pastor- whose book has "How to Heal Your Broken Heart" has been endorsed by Mehmet Oz, M.D. You can contact him at www.drlaman.com or read his blog posts at: http://drlaman.com/blog/