Heart disease

Your muscles tense up, your breathing quickens, your hands start to sweat profusely, and your heart rate increases when you're under extreme stress. The hormones cortisol and adrenaline, which are released by your body in reaction to stress, are what cause your body's natural fight-or-flight response.

The effects stress has on your heart include:

• Chronic stress and heart disease: The link has not yet been scientifically confirmed, but initial studies suggest that chronic stress and an unhealthy level of stress hormones may contribute to heart disease.
• Inflammation of the heart muscle: Chronic stress may be a factor in circulatory system inflammation, especially in coronary arteries. The buildup and rupture of plaque in artery walls, as well as subsequent heart attacks, are all primarily caused by inflammation in the arteries.
• Blood pressure spike: Your body produces an excess of hormones when you are under stress, which makes your blood vessels narrow and your heart beat more quickly. Your blood pressure temporarily rises as a result of this. Your heart, kidneys, and blood vessels are harmed if this happens regularly.
• Other risk factors for heart disease: You could feel the want to overeat, smoke, or skip exercise while you're under stress, all of which are risk factors for heart disease.