Can stress cause CVD?

[Heartattackvictim]

In the BHF website it states that stress does not cause a heart attack or CVD. However two recent studies suggest otherwise: Nabi et al (2013) in The European Heart Journal (see: academic.oup.com/eurheartj/... and Tawakal et al (2017) in The Lancet (see thelancet.com/journals/lanc...

Has anyone got any views / experience about the link between stress and CVD; and, especially what this might mean for, say, getting early retirement on the basis of this?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! Usually I agree with the BHF but on this I do not. I know someone who was always stressed out and he needed stents in his thirties. He carried on being stressed and eventually had a double bypass! When people are stressed the body releases adrenaline (the flee or fight hormone). This causes the HR and BP to increase but as the usual response is to react but carry on being stressed. I believe over time this causes CVD. But that is my personal opinion.

[Manhattan1]

ok this probably sounds stupid! lol.. but i’ve noticed that if i get overly worked up about something then i DO notice that i sometimes get chest pains.. so i do believe that stress does have the ability to affect to cause problems

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Manhattan1]

I am sure it does as in this case:

metro.co.uk/2019/11/11/fath...

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

I agree with MichaelJH prolonged stress can mean your body is exposed long term to the stress hormones leading to raised BP etc.

Depression also increases your risks of a heart attack.

There is also the condition Takostubo Cardiomyopathy caused by extreme stress.

I live with non obstructive coronary artery disease .

Emotional and physical stress are triggers for my vasospastic angina.

I was retired early on ill health grounds for this reason.

This recent article published in the BMJ is suggesting there is a link.

bmj.com/content/365/bmj.l1255

[Heartattackvictim in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks for the link; that's really interesting.

[84green in reply to Heartattackvictim]

This is purely a personal opinion but I believe that stress is a factor in developing CVD and impeding treatment of it. This was confirmed by my cardiologist and an A&E doctor.

Since my diagnosis I have noticed an almost constant “adrenaline rush” feeling as described by Michael above. It wasn’t there before.

The more ‘idle’ time I have the more I focus on it and the worse it gets. It goes when I’m actively concentrating on something else or exercising.

I’m trying to find something (eg meditation) that help me switch off my brain from time to time.

I’m sure it doesn’t help CVD or many other diseases come to that.

[84green in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you - fascinating stuff.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to 84green]

I use Tai Chi, yoga and Mindfulness meditation to manage my stress

I also use this free app

insighttimer.com/meditation...

🧘‍♀️

[84green in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks. I’ll give the app a try. I do Pilates which I enjoy. What is the best way to learn either tai chi or meditation? Can you teach yourself.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to 84green]

I have been going to the same Tai Chi class for many years.

I also went on a 8 week Mindfulness for living with pain and illness course.

There are loads of books but I always prefer to go to a class first.

I find the insight timer really helpful.

[84green in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you, much appreciated.

[Hidden]

Totally true. Folk in tune with their bodies will know.: From Milkfairy's link: "Conclusion: Stress related disorders are robustly associated with multiple types of cardiovascular disease, independently of familial background, history of somatic/psychiatric diseases, and psychiatric comorbidity."