Did you know that persistent psychological stress and negative emotions (e.g. anger, grief, jealousy and sadness) are one of the most important risk factors for developing a heart attack? Did you know that chronic stress and anger increase vulnerability to arrhythmias (irregular or abnormal heartbeat), independent of other risk factors? Do you know how stress and negative emotions affect your cardiovascular health? Psychological stress damage the heart by increasing the production of two hormones: cortisol and catecholamines. Chronic elevated cortisol and catecholamines raise heart rate and blood pressure, increase inflammation and oxidative stress, and activate platelets and immune cells. Negative emotions potentiate the harmful effects of stress. In experimental animal studies, chronic stress induces profound changes in cardiac function, including accumulation of fibrous tissue resulting in stiffening of the heart (diastolic dysfunction), increased plaque formation in the ...

Did you know that persistent psychological stress and negative emotions (e.g. anger, grief, jealousy and sadness) are one of the most important risk factors for developing a heart attack? Did you know that chronic stress and anger increase vulnerability to arrhythmias (irregular or abnormal heartbeat), independent of other risk factors? Do you know how stress and negative emotions affect your cardiovascular health? Psychological stress damage the heart by increasing the production of two hormones: cortisol and catecholamines . Chronic elevated cortisol and catecholamines raise heart rate and blood pressure, increase inflammation and oxidative stress, and activate platelets and immune cells. Negative emotions potentiate the harmful effects of stress . In experimental animal studies, chronic stress induces profound changes in cardiac function, including accumulation of fibrous tissue resulting in stiffening of the heart (diastolic dysfunction), increased plaqu...