Signs Of Stress And Its Link To Heart Disease

Main Category: Heart Disease
Also Included In: Anxiety / Stress
Article Date: 30 Apr 2004 - 0:00 PST

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The British Heart Foundation says there is growing evidence to show stress is linked to heart disease.

The Health and Safety Executive estimates that more than 13 million working days were lost to stress-related illnesses in the workplace last year, making it the fastest growing cause of absence from work. But combined with other health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes, it could also be fatal.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has produced an advice booklet for workers highlighting 23 warning signs of stress. These include exhaustion, loss of appetite, palpitations, feeling sick in the stomach or irritable.

The booklet - which can be downloaded from the internet -- explains the connection between stress and heart disease.

The charity says that while stress is not one of the main risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), the link between the two is becoming clearer as more research is done. A previous study, published in the journal Circulation showed that the emotional stress encountered in everyday life could trigger abnormal heart rhythms in vulnerable people.

The BHF says high cholesterol, low physical activity, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes are all proven to be high risk factors.

The foundation says any one of these combined with high amounts of stress can lead to heart disease. Professor Andrew Steptoe, from University College London, said: "Research is beginning to show that, for some people at least, stress may contribute to coronary heart disease. Because we cannot measure stress easily, this area of research is complex and it could be years before we can say for certain whether stress directly affects the heart.

"A degree of challenge is necessary for us to feel motivated and enthusiastic, but too much stress can cause ill health. Getting the balance right helps us to lead a healthy, active lifestyle and cope with stress in a positive way. The message from the BHF is be aware of the warning signs and take action to manage your stress so that it does not damage your health."

The charity's booklet outlines the causes of stress, how it can affect your heart health and how to manage it better. The self-test section allows you to monitor yourself for stress and gives helpful advice about how to cope under stressful conditions. The booklet can be downloaded at www.bhf.org.uk/stress or ordered by calling 01604 640 016.

THE SIGNS OF STRESS�

The British Heart Foundation says those who are suffering from more than five of the 23 warning signs listed below may have stress and need to seek advice on how to manage it:

� Feeling sweaty or shivery

� Pounding heart or palpitations

� Needing to go to the toilet a lot more than normal

� Feeling sick in the stomach ('having butterflies')

� Dry mouth

� Exhaustion

� Odd aches and pains

� Smoking and drinking more

� Working to exhaustion

� Headaches

� No time for hobbies any more

� Being irritable at everything

� Thinking "I can't cope with this any more"

� Loss of appetite for food, fun or sex

� Eating too much or too little

� Loss of sense of humour

� Loss of interest in personal appearance

� A feeling that everything is pointless

� Tearfulness

� Forgetfulness

� Feeling tired with no energy

� Difficulty in sleeping, disturbed sleep and waking up unusually early

From: Norwich Union Health
http://www.norwichunion.com/frameset/health_e_talk.htm

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