Here’s how stress can lead to heart attacks

Anxiety-related complications can lead to severe vascular accidents.

Myocardial infarctions are the leading cause of death worldwide. It is a type of coronary accident related to lifestyle; in particular, the occurrence of heart attacks is directly influenced by sustained stress and unhealthy habits.

In this article we will analyze the mechanisms by which stress can facilitate the occurrence of heart attacks. stress can facilitate the development of heart attacks.. To do this, it is necessary that we first stop to define these two concepts.

What is stress?

We can define stress as a set of physiological responses to stimuli or situations that the organism perceives as threatening. situations that the organism perceives as threatening or demanding..

These reactions of the body are nonspecific and stereotyped; this means that they do not depend on a particular type of environmental stimulation and that they are very similar regardless of the causes that trigger them.

The physiological stress responses depend on the activation of the hypothalamus activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the autonomic nervous system.. Short-term effects consist of increased heart rate and consumption of stored energy, as well as other signs of physical activation.

The physiologist Hans Selye described three phases of stress in his General Adaptation Syndrome model. During the alarm phase, the body recognizes the stressor and mobilizes to cope with it; if the stress still persists, it moves into the resistance phase, in which activation decreases somewhat so that it can be maintained in the long term.

When the organism has consumed its resources the third phase appears, called "exhaustion" and characterized by the reappearance of the intense symptoms typical of the alarm phase. Although the advanced phases of the stress response are detrimental to the organism, the alterations usually disappear after a period of rest during which the person generates new energy reserves.

Consequences of stress

When stress is sustained, it causes what is known as stress syndrome, consisting of the appearance of peptic ulcer, an increase in the size of the adrenal gland and a decrease in the thymus. These alterations are related to massive secretion of glucocorticoids and suppression of the immune response, which facilitates the development of diseases.which facilitates the development of diseases.

Today's increasingly stressful lifestyle has promoted a clear increase in the prevalence of blood circulation disorders, such as heart attacks and hypertension. Having high Blood Pressure increases the likelihood of atherosclerotic plaque build-up, and thus of cardiovascular accidents.

There are also many psychological symptoms that can be influenced by stress: anxiety, irritability, apathy, sadness, emotional instability... Among the disorders caused by stress anxiety and depression stand out which, like cardiovascular disorders, are considered lifestyle diseases.

Definition of heart attack

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, and their frequency continues to grow; whereas in 1990 they accounted for 12% of deaths, in 2013 this figure was close to 17%.

Infarction consists of the death (or necrosis) of part of the tissue of an organ. Necrosis generally occurs as a result of the obstruction of the artery supplying it..

When the necrotic tissue is found in the musculature of the heart, we speak of myocardial infarction. Infarctions can also occur in other organs; in addition to the heart, the most common are the brain, kidneys and intestine.

If the accident takes place in the kidneys we speak of renal infarction, while if they occur in the intestine the correct term is "mesenteric intestinal infarction". Cerebral infarctions are known as "cerebrovascular accidents". or "encephalic vascular accidents".

Arterial obstruction is usually due to the accumulation of atheromatous plaques (or atherosclerosis) but can also be the result of hernias, the presence of tumors or deformation of the organ.

Among the most relevant factors that predispose to the appearance of infarctions are the following tobacco and alcohol consumption, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, diabetes and high levels of blood pressure.diabetes and high cholesterol levels. They also occur more frequently in men, in people over 40 years of age and in those with a family history of cardiovascular disease.

How does stress cause heart attacks?

The appearance of heart attacks as a result of stress is due to the conjunction of a series of interrelated causal mechanisms. Specifically, scientific research has linked heart attacks to increased cortisol levels and hyperreactivity of the amygdala.

Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced in the adrenal gland produced in the adrenal gland and released in response to stressful conditions. Although it is essential for the body to consume energy, excessive and continued secretion of cortisol can inflame the arteries, narrowing them and making it easier for them to become blocked.

The amygdalae are two brain structures located in the temporal lobes and are involved in the learning of emotional responses, including fear, anxietyincluding fear, anxiety and stress. When stress levels are high for much of the time, amygdala neurons learn by classical conditioning to elicit stress responses to stimuli that do not actually pose a threat.

Thus, continued stress in itself negatively affects the cardiovascular system, but it also facilitates the amygdala to associate the fear response with harmless stimuli.. This leads to a vicious circle in which stress causes more stress, increasing the risk of heart attacks and other circulatory problems.

However, the continued practice of physical and cognitive relaxation exercises can help the body to stop emitting stress responses at inappropriate times. Scientific research particularly supports progressive muscle relaxation and slow, deep breathing procedures.

Bibliographical references:

• Ressler, K. J. (2010). Amygdala Activity, Fear, and Anxiety: Modulation by Stress. Biological Psychiatry, 67(12); 1117 - 1119.

• Tawakol, A. et al. (2017). Relation between resting amygdalar activity and cardiovascular events: a longitudinal and cohort study. The Lancet, 389(10071); 834 - 845.