Three types of heart diseases are more likely to come knocking on women's doors due to high stress levels
2024-07-30
Stress is ubiquitous in society, and women are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease under heavy pressure. Research has found that there are three main types of cardiovascular diseases closely related to stress in women, namely stress-induced myocardial ischemia, stress-induced cardiomyopathy, and spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Three types of heart diseases favor women with high levels of stress. Research has found that women, especially young women, are more likely to suffer from stress-induced myocardial ischemia, also known as myocardial ischemia under heavy pressure, compared to men of the same age. Stress cardiomyopathy, also known as heartbroken syndrome, usually occurs under strong emotions or immense stress and is more common in postmenopausal women. It is speculated that the hormone catecholamines in the blood exceed the physiological tolerance level, leading to heart enlargement. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is common in perimenopausal women and is also the most common cause of pregnancy and postpartum myocardial infarction, usually triggered by intense emotional stress. Multiple pressures affect women's health, and the correlation between women's marital difficulties and cardiovascular risk is stronger than that of men. Among female patients with coronary heart disease, those with marital difficulties have a 2.9-fold increased risk of recurrent coronary events. It is estimated that over 80% of caregivers worldwide are women, and the burden of caring for families is related to increased psychological stress for women. Menarche, pregnancy, and menopause can further exacerbate women's psychological stress. The psychological pressure and pregnancy stress of being a first-time mother can also affect cardiovascular health during pregnancy. Stress is also associated with premature birth, low birth weight infants, and gestational hypertension. In addition, psychological stress affects cardiovascular health through various pathways. For women, the main mechanism by which psychological stress leads to cardiovascular disease is inflammation and microvascular dysfunction caused by neuroendocrine disorders and activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Psychological health is also related to healthy behavior. High psychological pressure often leads to smoking, obesity, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and sleep disorders. Exercise can alleviate stress and anxiety. Psychological stress is a key modifiable risk factor, and reducing stress may be an important measure to lower cardiovascular risk in women. Research has found that women benefit more from physical exercise than men. Physical activity can improve autonomic nervous system function and alleviate stress and anxiety by releasing endorphins. In addition, there are many methods to reduce stress, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy that can alleviate anxiety and depression, mindfulness and meditation that can improve sleep and lower blood pressure, stress management and lifestyle interventions that are beneficial for relaxation and enhance the ability to handle negative emotions. (New Society)
Edit:HAN ZHUOLING Responsible editor:CAICAI
Source:gmw.cn
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