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MAY 2021
Decrease your stress to improve your heart health
Our mental health has a significant impact on our physical health. Chronic stress can be especially hard on our bodies and can lead to substantial health issues.
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If you are someone who experiences stress frequently, you could be at risk for:
Heart disease
Daily stress can lead to heart attacks. Those with Type A personalities have an extremely high risk of developing abnormal heart rhythms. And even the normal stress of everyday life can negatively affect people already prone to heart disease.
Stroke
People who are highly stressed, or even moderately stressed on a regular basis, have a significantly increased risk of having a fatal stroke.
High blood pressure
Stress hormones cause an immediate rise in blood pressure. While this may not create problems for everyone, chronic stress and hypertension is a deadly combination.
Lowered immunity
Stress hormones compromise a body’s immune system, making it more susceptible to the flu, colds and other infectious diseases.
Here’s the good news
There are steps you can take to decrease your stress and improve your heart health. Take control of your stress — and calm your body and mind — through:
- Breathing techniques: Breathing slowly and deeply automatically relaxes the body.
- Yoga: Slower exercises, such as yoga, help connect breath, movement and body control.
- Meditation: Find a quiet place to be alone, wherever you are, and try to clear your mind. Get started with our guided meditation.
- Stretching: Take time to stretch whenever you find yourself in a tense position.
- Walking: Walk around the building instead of taking a coffee break. Or get up 15 minutes early and walk around the block before you leave for work.
- Sleeping: Make sure you get just a little more sleep than you think you need during times of high stress. If you need help falling asleep, try taking non-habit-forming sleep aids like melatonin, unwinding with apps like Calm and Headspace, or listening to relaxing audiobooks. Download Costco’s free audiobook app for discounts on some of your favorite reads.