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The Link Between Stress and Heart Disease—And What to Do About It
The Link Between Stress and Heart Disease—And What to Do About It
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August 21/2025

The Link Between Stress and Heart Disease—And What to Do About It

Stress is rarely considered a problem until it escalates into a severe medical complication. While minor physical discomfort, such as stomachaches or sweaty hands, rarely raises concerns initially, excess stress can threaten heart health. The expert heart doctors at Southern Maryland Medical Group have experience with stress-related complications, providing in-depth assessments, accurate diagnoses, and effective solutions to maintain optimal health. The last thing you want is to ignore minor signs of stress only to end up in the emergency room due to heart complications.

How to Recognize Stress

Whether it is a work-related issue, personal problems, or other stressful situations, primary care doctors may not determine how long the health effects might last. Research shows that women over 18 years old going through divorce have a higher risk of a heart attack. This is the same for other vulnerable groups, such as diabetics and smokers. The study also discovered that men undergoing work-related stress or divorce can experience serious heart issues.

Additionally, stress caused by enjoyable events may raise your risk of a heart emergency. During football games or other fun events, the risk of heart attacks increases, hence the need to regularly monitor your stress levels.

The Link Between Stress and Heart Disease

Stressful situations cause body inflammation, leading to heart issues, such as high blood pressure and lower HDL cholesterol. Although this is a more direct impact on your heart, chronic stress can also indirectly contribute to heart-related complications. When most people are worried, they sleep less, exercise infrequently, make unhealthy food choices, or ignore their weight. All these lifestyle changes can strain the heart, increasing the risk of disease.

How to Protect Your Heart

Rarely do people consider their stress as a potential health risk. If you experience stressful situations, recognizing that it can harm your heart is crucial. Let’s delve into the steps to help you protect your heart from stress and the subsequent effects.

Get Professional Advice

Reputable primary care doctors in Riverdale, MD can assess and discuss stress levels. This is particularly important for those with other risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure or obesity. By regularly visiting your doctor and making informed lifestyle changes, you maintain low stress levels and improve your overall well-being.

Let Stress Motivate You

Stress doesn’t have to be the cause of health decline and social dysfunctional behavior. You can turn these overwhelming thoughts into motivation for exercise and other beneficial physical activities. When you have a stressful day, walk with friends or engage in a social activity, such as lunch, to take your mind off things.

Practice Stress-Reducing Techniques

Another effective way to help calm your mind and reduce stress is to practice mindfulness and meditation. By practicing simple breathing techniques, you can regulate blood pressure and heart rate. Additionally, combining physical postures, meditation, and breathing during yoga sessions offers numerous benefits for stress management and heart health.

Consider Stress Management Classes

Sometimes, stress can be a significant problem that requires a more direct approach to effectively address the main cause. With that said, attending workshops or classes on stress management can provide structured guidance and proven techniques to ensure you live a stress-free and healthier life.

The reality is that stress can go undetected for a long time until it is too late. By following these helpful tips and regularly visiting your primary care doctor for checkups, you can address symptoms early and prevent heart emergencies. Contact us at the Southern Maryland Medical Group to book a consultation with our heart doctors and get the help you need for optimal heart health.

Our Locations

Southern Maryland Medical Group has 3 convenient locations to provide professional medical care services in the Southern Maryland area. Call or schedule an appointment with one of our locations to get medical care help. 

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Camp Springs, MD

5801 Allentown Road, Suite 400 Camp Spring, MD 20746

Phone: 301-868- 0150

Billing Inquiries: 301-552-1270

Fax: 301-868-0243

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Greenbelt, MD

7500 Greenway Center, Dr #1200 Greenbelt, MD 20770

Phone: 301-486-7580

Billing Inquiries: 301-552-1270

Fax: 301-486-7581

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Riverdale, MD

6510 Kenilworth Ave, Ste 1400, Riverdale MD 20737

Phone: 301-618-0771

Billing Inquiries: 301-552-1270

Fax: 301-618-0772