Video / Sharecare Experts / Suzanne Steinbaum, MD / How Does Chronic Stress Contribute to Heart Disease?

How Does Chronic Stress Contribute to Heart Disease?

How Does Chronic Stress Contribute to Heart Disease? (0:48)

Stress can wreak havoc on the entire body; it increases risk factors for heart disease and directly contributes to serious cardiac issues. In this video, cardiologist Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, explains why managing stress is critical to heart health.

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Stress can absolutely wreak havoc on the body. We know with stress, there's an increase in cortisol and all of these stress hormones that increase heart rate, blood pressure, and can cause the arteries to constrict. What this does is, essentially lead to heart disease. If we don't manage our stress, then we are really causing risk factors for heart disease to develop.

It can also lead to obesity, and sleep disturbances which can also contribute to the risk. First thing's first, managing stress is an important part of preventing heart disease.