STRESS AND THE HEART: LESSONS FROM THE PANDEMIC

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe, everyone has been experiencing various levels of stress. The fear of getting the virus or spreading it to other people, along with stressful social distancing measures, and the job insecurity that millions of people are facing are enough for an entire lifetime worth of stress.

Interestingly enough, since the start of the pandemic, many specialist cardiologists in Dubai have reported an increase in number of people complaining about heart pain, chest tightness, and other cardiological symptoms.

For years now, specialist cardiologists in Dubai have understood that there is a strong correlation between stress and heart health. Individuals who suffer from constant, severe stress are at higher risk for developing cardiovascular diseases.

Keeping these factors in mind, let us take a look at the link between stress and the heart, and what that means during the pandemic.

Link Between Stress and Cardiovascular Health During COVID-19

Stressful lives are a risk factor for heart health for a number of reasons. People who experience stress often suffer from compromised immunity and weakened heart muscles. This means that they are more likely to develop various cardiovascular diseases.

According to heart specialists in Dubai, with the ongoing pandemic, severe stress has become a reality for all, which can mimic symptoms of cardiovascular disease, as well as increase the risk for developing serious heart conditions.

• Stress Cardiomyopathy

Most notably, stress cardiomyopathy is a cardiac disorder characterized by a sudden onset of chest pain and heart dysfunction that mimics a heart attack.

Unlike a typical heart attack, heart specialists are unable to find evidence of a blood clot or abnormalities with cardiac blood flow in cases of stress cardiomyopathy. This typically occurs when individuals are experiencing physical or emotional distress, stress, or trauma.

• Anxiety Response

Moreover, anxiety occurs when your body sets off a “fight or flight” response to stressful situations. This results in racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, and often a sudden chest pain that can feel like a heart attack.

There is no doubt that the global coronavirus pandemic has caused tremendous amounts of stress to many people. This has led to an increase in severe anxiety attacks. In fact, specialist cardiologists in Dubai have seen many patients experiencing heart attack-like symptoms as a result of anxiety or stress cardiomyopathy.

Managing Stress and Heart Health During COVID-19

While COVID-19 cases have been skyrocketing for the past year now, reports of heart conditions have also been climbing.

The stress of coronavirus has triggered a number of heart cases, but research has also shown that getting the virus can also cause harmful effects to the cardiovascular system.

Therefore, it is more important than ever to manage stress and take care of your heart health during the pandemic. Specialist cardiologists in Dubai suggest the following measures:

• Eat a heart-healthy diet comprising of immunity-boosting foods.
• Get daily exercise. Consider doing some stretching in your house or take a walk around the neighborhood while wearing a mask and following social distancing measures.
• Practice breathing exercises and stress management techniques to reduce anxiety.
• Follow social distancing measures to stay safe and reduce the risk of contracting the virus.
• Stay connected with friends and family to reduce stress while maintaining SOPs.

 Furthermore, if you are experiencing any symptoms indicative of heart disease, such as chest pain or difficulty breathing, then reach out to a heart specialist. Turn to the German Heart Centre for an appointment with the best specialist cardiologists in Dubai, while maintaining all SOPs and government issued social distancing measures.

If you believe that you have coronavirus, then stay at home. Seek emergency medical care if you are experiencing severe symptoms. Consider speaking to a heart specialist for any heart-related symptoms that you have experienced. 联系人 德国心脏中心 now to book an appointment.