The recent news of Abreesh Murty, Co-founder and CEO of Pepperfry, aged 51, passing away due to a heart attack broke the internet. An avid bike rider, he would often post videos of his expeditions on his Instagram, exuding a level of physical fitness that made it unimaginable that he would pass away due to a heart attack at such a young age.
Murty joins the long list of successful businessmen who died from a heart attack, including famous personalities like Vikram Kirloskar, the Vice-Chairman of Toyota India and James Richard Cantalupo, the CEO of McDonald’s. This morbid trend begs the question, can work pressure be behind these untimely deaths? Can work pressure induce such extreme stress that it can devastate your heart health?
How Does Stress Affect Your Heart?
According to the University of Rochester Medical Centre, ‘Even minor stress can trigger heart problems like poor blood flow to the heart muscle. Long-term stress can affect how the blood clots. This makes the blood stickier and increases the risk of stroke.’
Informing the team of OnlyMyHealth about the perils of prolonged stress, Dr Dhiman Kahali, Director, Interventional Cardiology Department, BM Birla Heart Research Centre, Kolkata, said, “Mental stress is a big risk factor for heart disease. It is almost as bad as smoking for your heart.”
“Type A personalities who suffer from anxiety, worry too much, have a hectic lifestyle, constantly skip their meals, are overly ambitious, and can not stop working, such a stressful life puts too much pressure on the heart,” he added.
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Dr Kahali informed that stress and anxiety cause the blood sugar to shoot up, which causes the heart rate and the demand for oxygen to increase. These factors are harmful to the heart and make the risk of stroke, diabetes and hypertension loom large.
Mental Health Factors That Harm the Heart
Dr Kahali informed that the following factors can be devastating for the heart:
- Extreme panic, anxiety, fear, and obsession
- Isolation and lack of social interaction
- Lethargy that results in lack of exercise and poor diet
- Addiction to smoking and alcohol
Managing Stress for Better Heart Health
Beyond affecting the heart, stress is one of the leading causes of poor physical health in today’s fast-paced world. Recommending the steps that everyone must follow, especially those that are crippled by extreme tension and anxiety, Dr Kahali advised the following measures:
- In today’s time, when the hustle culture is at its peak, it’s essential to accept that too many expectations from the world will let you down at some point or the other. So, accepting the world and the people around you is a must to manage your expectations and not feel like you are spiralling in an uncontrollable and random world.
- If you have a tough time being calm and relaxed, it is advisable to consult a mental health professional as soon as possible. If seeking professional help isn’t financially viable for you, then there are several support groups that you can benefit from.
- Regular physical activities like brisk walking, cycling, swimming, or jogging are incredibly healthy for your heart and will help you manage your stress levels.
- Quality sleep is essential to lower your stress levels and overall well-being. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep daily can work wonders for your stress.
- Yoga and meditation have proven benefits for managing stress, as it triggers the body’s endocrine system to release happy hormones. Breathing exercises are also great for calming yourself down and relaxing your wind from going into a spiral when faced with challenging situations.
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco products. These habits fuel mental health issues further and are extremely damaging to your heart.
- Consume a healthy and balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, spices, and nuts. Intermittent fasting also helps with relaxation and reduces your blood pressure.
Dr Kahali highlighted that stress is a silent killer that manifests dangerous diseases in the body. He advised that dealing with stress isn’t a one-time job. You have to be consistent and diligent with your mental health efforts. You must gain control over your mind, follow a healthy lifestyle, and practice being relaxed, even in the worst circumstances.
[Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Consult your healthcare provider for a thorough diagnosis and treatment per your health needs.]
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