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Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2008
In This Issue
- Stress Management Helps the Heart
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Stress Management Helps the Heart
By Lynn Beatty
Heart disease is now ranked the number one killer for both men and women in industrialized countries. While “heart attacks” occur suddenly and often without warning, underlying damage to the coronary arteries occurs gradually over time, long before the acute event.
The development of coronary artery disease is often asymptomatic. It may not even be evident with cardiac diagnostic studies. Some people develop plaque build-up in somewhat larger arteries which is easier to identify during stress testing or cardiac catheterization and which is more likely to produce symptoms of chest pain during strenuous activity. Others, especially women and those with diabetes, develop plaque and inflammation diffusely in many tiny arteries all at once. For some reason, this type of coronary artery disease tends to be less likely associated with the development of chest pain and is often more likely to go undiagnosed until it is quite advanced.
The "heart attack" itself, then, is an acute event superimposed on a chronic underlying process. The plaque represents a build-up of cholesterol which may calcify over time to produce a hardened material which literally blocks some of the lumen of the artery, allowing less blood to flow through. This is a slow developing condition. What happens acutely is some form of inflammation of the arteries which triggers a series of reactions in the blood, leading to the formation of a clot which completely occludes blood flow. This process happens quickly and unexpectedly. The heart muscle, hungry for oxygen, begins to die in areas without adequate blood flow. This is what causes the chest pain associated with heart attacks, if and when it is perceptible.
The good news is that MOST of the risk factors for developing coronary artery disease are lifestyle related and can be modified by considering factors which 1) protect the arteries from being damaged, and 2) protect the heart from being overworked. Stress causes physiologic responses which impact both of these mechanisms. Stress management can have a profound effect on protecting our hearts from damage.
Influences which trigger the stress response on a chronic basis have been shown to promote hypertension and high cholesterol. Hypertension (high blood pressure) which goes untreated for long periods of time can damage the innermost surface of arterial walls, causing inflammatory reactions and starting the process of cholesterol build-up. The more cholesterol we have flowing through the bloodstream, the more build-up is likely to occur. Stress itself has also been shown to contribute to higher cholesterol levels, increased inflammation and increased tendency toward blood clotting. Stress also increases the heart rate and the force of contraction, both of which increase the oxygen demand of the heart muscle, making it less able to tolerate reduced blood flow.
Creative Wellness has a long tradition of promoting healthful practices such as exercise, massage, meditation and holistic healing approaches like Chiropractic and acupuncture which are known to help engage the relaxation response. Learning, practicing and FEELING the RELAXATION RESPONSE is the antidote to chronic stress. Let Creative Wellness be your partner in promoting stress management and heart health!