Attitude is everything. Get all worked up about stuff and your ticker pays part of the price.
But cultivate a "this too shall pass" attitude and you may help protect yourself from heart and blood vessel trouble -- maybe even something as serious as a heart attack.
Before and After
Anxiety is so hard on the heart that it also affects a person's prognosis after diagnosis with heart disease. Highly anxious people with heart disease are twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or die compared with their more mellow-minded peers. (Can't settle down your mind at night? Answer these questions to see how prone you are to anxiety.)
Walk Away from the Worry Whammy
But there's good news, too. Anxious people who learn how to mellow out can undo some of that potential damage. Exercises like walking or lifting weights do wonders for an unsettled mind. Here's another great way to keep your worries from taking over.