The Stress-Induced Heart Attack

The sudden onset of an emotional assault such as the loss of a loved one can be so intense that it can trigger serious cardiovascular problems – including a heart attack and stroke. This has to do with the release of your body’s “fight or flight” hormones in response to stress.

The “fight or flight” response is a set of involuntary physiological changes that occur whenever you are faced with a stressful or threatening situation. When your body enters into this response, the released adrenaline raises blood pressure and increases your heart rate and breathing. If your body remains in this alarm mode for any length of time, you become prone to stress-producing conditions, ranging from aching neck muscles and headaches to ulcers, allergies, diminished sexual desire and heart risk factors.

However, if the adrenaline rush is intense enough, it could lead to a heart attack.

For more information on heart risk factors, visit www.drsinatra.com.