Stress has become a part and parcel of our day-to-day lives and many times we don't even realize how it is impacting our overall health. Some people tend to believe that it is all in their brain, and it is only when you ask an expert, that you realize how stress is not only limited to your mind but its impact can radiate towards other organs as well. You will be surprised to know that there is a very close link between your heart and stress. As per the experts from the best cardiac surgery hospital in Gurgaon, stress can affect the heart in multiple ways, making it more vulnerable to various diseases and ailments.
Excessive stress can cause your blood pressure levels to spike up putting you at an increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke. When people are under stress they tend to smoke, overeat or refrain from indulging in any physical activity. All three of these happened to be great risk factors for many cardiovascular ailments. In this blog, we have talked about some stress management techniques that would help you to keep your stress at bay, which will in turn help to protect your heart.
Exercise - Most people, when they are burdened with stress, tend to avoid any physical activity, spending most of the time at home, lying on a couch or in bed. This is only going to make things worse. It is very important for you to maintain a good exercise level and indulge in physical activities as this can help to decrease the production of cortisol which is a stress hormone. Exercising can also support the production of endorphins, which are commonly referred to as the feel-good hormones. You do not necessarily need to join a gym or force yourself to take part in activities that you don't like, rather you can opt for something that you enjoy doing, be it walking, swimming, cycling, aerobics, yoga, or even football or cricket.
Laugh - It is often said that laughter is the best medicine but have you ever tried to understand why? Laughing helps to lower the levels of stress hormones, brings down inflammation, and increases the levels of good cholesterol or HDL. When you laugh, the oxygen levels in your body tend to increase. As your muscles get relaxed, all the tension is released. This takes away unnecessary strain from your heart, thereby lowering the risks of any heart disease. So next time you feel stress taking over, laugh it out loud.
Practice meditation - The benefits of meditation date back to ancient times. It is one of the best ways to calm down your body and mind. Meditation can help you to divert your focus from the underline cause of stress and rather focus on things that make you feel good. Practicing meditation can also help you to keep your blood pressure levels under check and bring down the dress for other heart diseases as well.
Breathe and relax - One of the most important things that you should do if you are finding it difficult to manage your stress is to breathe and let out all the negativity. Taking deep breaths will help your body to take in more oxygen and as this happens the cortisol levels are likely to drop. Although you can practice this at any time of the day, experts specializing in cardiac surgery in Gurgaon suggest that the best time to do it is in the morning, as the air is fresh.
Listen to music - Did you know that music can help you relax? Our choice of music changes depending on our mood, which clearly indicates that there is some link between the two. Now if you are listening to soothing and relaxing music it is definitely going to have a positive impact on your overall mood and bring down your stress levels. If you do not like listening to music you can always try listening to the sounds of nature such as waves crashing, birds singing and rain falling.
If you are still finding a difficult to manage your stress levels it is important to see an expert in the field and get proper help. You can find the best cardiac doctors in Gurgaon who can help you with the same.
Dr. D.K. Jhamb, Director & Head of the Department
Interventional Cardiology
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