walk3 Stress may be harmful for your heart health. During stressful moments, your blood pressure can spike, and you may have an irregular heartbeat. Over time, with continual stress, you may increase your odds of heart disease or heart failure. On the flip side, relaxing and overcoming stress may help your heart health. That’s why we’re taking a moment today to offer up advice to aid you in relaxing. So take a moment, take a deep breath, kick up your feet, and absorb some tips on how to relax for your heart health.

Exercise

If you suffer from excess stress throughout your day to day, regular exercise may help you manage stress. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise offers a reprieve from stress because it boosts your endorphins, it gives your mind a break from problems and tensions you’ve stored up, and it can boost your mood. All of those benefits can reduce your stress, relax your body and mind, and aid your heart health. Just remember, if you’re beginning a workout routine you should build up your strength and endurance gradually; don’t overexert yourself, it could lead to an injury.

Don’t Smoke

If you needed another reason to quit smoking, consider your heart. Smoking may be a go-to if you’re stressed out, but it may also be the source of stress in your life; that’s a vicious cycle. One thing’s for certain, smoking strains the heart. Smoking leads to coronary heart disease. So cut the cigarettes, and opt for a healthy smoothie or a jog when the urge to smoke hits.

food1Eating Right

When we’re stressed, we often reach for food. It’s an odd impulse, but when stress hits, we often binge on bad food, thus the term “stress eating.” If you find that you’re reaching for a bag of potato chips or running to the fridge for a pint of ice cream, pause and ask yourself if you’re stress eating. Be mindful of when you eat, what you eat, and how much you eat. If stress is guiding your appetite, it’s time to make a change for your health.

Keep healthy snacks on hand, including fruits and veggies, lowfat yogurt, and the like. Plan your meals, and stick to a healthy diet. Speak with your doctor or cardiologist if you’re looking to change your diet to support your heart health.

Slow Your Eating

It’s a simple step with powerful results. Slowing your eating can be beneficial to your health, and it can help you to destress. Be mindful of how quickly you eat, and pay attention to what you’re eating and how much food you are consuming. When you eat more slowly, you stress the body less. When you eat quickly, you can overeat, and you can cause indigestion and gastrointestinal pain. Take at least 20 minutes to eat a meal. Be sure to chew your food. Be sure to focus on your meal. Take deep breaths, and most importantly, enjoy your meal! Eating slowly reduces stress, and it boosts your health!

Be Mindful, Stay Positive

When the daily rigmarole is bogging you down, it’s important to be mindful and stay positive. Stress can seep into your mind without an effort, yet it can be difficult to defuse. Be mindful of your stressors, and do your best to rise above them. Meditation can work wonders, or book yourself the occasional massage. Even taking a few deep, conscious breaths throughout the day can be a major help. When stressful thoughts permeate the mind, they can leave you with tense muscles and high blood pressure. Be mindful, stay positive, and mitigate stress in your life.

Remember, your heart health counts, and stress can strain the heart. Reduce stress, and help your heart. If you need further advice, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your Stockton-area heart doctor here!