Study: Stress Reactions May Determine Heart Health

When confronted with a stressful situation, how do you respond? According to a recent study, the way in which a person reacts to stress could play a major role in determining their heart health.

Researchers from the Pennsylvania State University say that people who respond to stressful situations in a more negative manner will have a greater risk of developing heart disease. This conclusion was made based on a study in which researchers found a direct link between daily stress and heart rate variability. Long story short, people who responded with greater anxiety to stressful situations had a higher autonomic regulation of the heart, placing them at a greater risk of developing heart disease.

This study comes at a pivotal time, as health officials throughout the world continue to emphasize the importance of maintaining a health heart. Each year, more than half a million people in the United States die from heart disease. While advancements in modern medicine have led to some new and improved treatment and preventative techniques, heart disease remains the leading cause of death among men and women, not only here in the U.S., but throughout the entire world.

Of course, there are ways to lower your stress levels, and subsequently lower your risk of developing heart disease. For starters, try to get into the habit of getting a minimum of eight hours of sleep per night. More than half of the U.S. adult population suffers from some type of sleep and/or wakefulness disorder, causing a disturbance in their hormones while increasing levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

In addition to getting enough sleep at night, you can also reduce stress levels by eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet. This means cutting out processed foods and basing your diet around fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains instead.

A third tip to help lower stress levels is to practice meditation. Some people wrongfully assume that meditation requires special training, but this isn't the case. Find a quiet, distraction-free environment, and then close your eyes and perform deep breathing exercises. As you inhale and exhale, you should feel a sense of relaxation floating through your body, allowing you to rest and relax more easily.