Successfully coexisting with stress involves transforming stressful situations into manageable challenges. The effective management of stress is crucial for overall well being.

 

Not All Stress is Bad

 

Stress is a physiological response that involves the production of hormones like adrenaline and noradrenaline to adapt to various activities or situations. This biological response leads to increases in pulse rate and blood pressure, activating brain hormones associated with depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. 

 

Stress is an inherent aspect of life and is clinically categorized into eustress and distress. Eustress empowers individuals, enhancing their performance without disrupting vital processes like sleep and repair.

 

Balancing Stress

 

Excessive stress can result in sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, elevated blood pressure, irritability, reduced performance, and an increased risk of various health issues, including ulcers, gastrointestinal problems, heart conditions, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and potentially even malignancies, as suggested by emerging data. 

 

The key lies in learning to coexist with stress and transforming distressful situations into manageable challenges. Individuals with heart disease face a dual challenge. Firstly, they must contend with existing stressors from their job, finances, performance, and social life, which may have contributed to their heart condition. Secondly, having a heart disease itself imposes additional limitations. 

 

Concerns about potential issues and the inability to enjoy simple pleasures like dining out or socializing may add to their worries. Essentially, having a heart condition fundamentally alters one's life experience.

 

Stress is not entirely invisible

 

Stress isn't completely invisible, and a straightforward way to assess it is by considering its impact on sleep. When interacting with patients, I often inquire about their sleep patterns. If someone is struggling to sleep well, takes sleeping pills regularly, or faces difficulty falling asleep despite having a comfortable bed and a quiet environment, it's a clear indication that stress is affecting them beyond healthy levels. 

 

This is distinct from sleep disruptions due to factors like night shifts or frequent long flights, which can also contribute to an increased risk of heart issues. 

 

Manage your inner self

 

Effectively managing stress involves focusing on your inner self rather than just external factors. Relying solely on external solutions may not lead to the desired results. Engaging in practices like yoga, understanding life expectations, and finding a balance between options and expectations are essential. 

 

Stress often arises when faced with too many choices during a challenging decision or when expectations don't align with available resources. For professionals, aligning expectations and targets with available resources is crucial. Balancing expectations with reality, whether they are high or low, is key to reducing stress. Incorporating meditation and yoga into daily routines can also contribute to mental clarity and improved problem-solving skills.

 

Conclusion

 

The root cause of our youth stress paradox must be addressed if we wish to reduce rates of heart disease in the coming generations. We must equip young people with strategies and skills to manage stress and a balanced lifestyle, allowing them to develop strong morale early on. 

 

We should also ensure they have access to mental health professionals whenever necessary – discussing well-being openly needs to become commonplace. To achieve this, we must learn from others who have successfully managed stress holistically and ensure resources are available for those needing them.

 

This blog has been converted from the PR Article - How mental health can impact our heart condition