Stress is essential to our survival. When it manifests spontaneously, it can be healthy, and allow us to boost our performance or make the right decisions to ensure our safety in situations that seem dangerous to us. But when it gets out of control, it can give way to pervasive anxiety, with deleterious effects. Fatigue, sleep disturbances, irritability, difficulty concentrating, but also palpitations and an increased risk of developing (or worsening) cardiovascular disease. The point with Dr. Muriel Bigot, cardiologist.
Reminder: what is the difference between stress and anxiety?
« Stress is a psychological and physiological (hormonal and biochemical) reaction that occurs in the face of an external disturbance. It can be stimulating, but becomes negative when it occurs repeatedly and uncontrollably », recalls Dr. Bigot. Anxiety is rather the consequence of stress. It is characterized by the anticipation of a future or hypothetical stress, at the origin of more or less diffuse fears.
And the cardiologist reminds us that we must distinguish occasional anxiety and chronic anxiety also called generalized, which is characterized by a permanent state of anxiety, and requires appropriate care.
Anxiety and heart health: palpitations, hypertension, myocardial infarction?
At the cardiovascular level, acute anxiety (intense, but occasional attacks) can cause:
- palpitations : the heart beats too fast (tachycardia) or in an anarchic way (extrasystole);
- a hypertensive crisis (rapid increase in blood pressure)
- and give a feeling of tightness in the chest.
« When it comes tochronic anxietythe person is subjected for a long time to negative stimuli which modify his organism and can become a cardiovascular risk factor », insists the cardiologist.
In other words, chronic anxiety very significantly increases the risk of having a stroke or myocardial infarction.
Because ? When we are under stress, our body reacts by triggering a series of biological and hormonal changes to flee or fight the danger. Our adrenal glands activate and produce higher amounts of cortisol and adrenaline, responsible for an increase in heart rate but also blood pressure. Generally, once the stress passes, everything returns to normal.
Can anxiety cause a heart attack?
Yes, as stated earlier, acute anxiety can cause a heart attack (myocardial infarction), while chronic anxiety increases the risk over the long term.
It should be noted that chronic anxiety generated by stress can also be the cause of certain illnesses such as depression, burnout, alcoholism, etc. (source 1).
Stress and anxiety can reinforce harmful addictive behaviors
It is important to remember that anxiety can also negatively impact our health choices. Exposure to a high level of stress can for example impact our sleep, our diet (overeating or unhealthy diet), but also our physical activity (increased sedentary lifestyle). These feelings can also worsen alcohol consumption and smoking. A counterproductive phenomenon, since tobacco and alcohol contribute to arterial inflammation. So many elements that promote heart problems and complications.
The heart of women even more sensitive to stress
Stress can have serious consequences on the cardiovascular health of women, who are more sensitive to it than men. « The mechanism of stress is the same in men and women. But we can emphasize that women are plagued by more hormonal changeslinked to puberty, fertility and perimenopause, which can play on daily anxiety », notes Dr Bigot. Not to mention the many societal issuesmental load in mind, which can, every day, bring their share of stress.
« Women have many stress hormone receptors, catecholamines, in their arteries and heart muscle. Their coronary arteries (the arteries of the heart) are also thinner than those of men », indicates the foundation Acting for the hearts of women (source 2). In fact, they are more vulnerable to arterial spasms (the artery that closes on itself), triggered by stress, with a consequent increased risk of heart attack.
Differentiating between an anxiety attack and a heart problem: when to worry?
The heart palpitations that can occur during an anxiety attack are rarely the cause of significant heart disease. If they occur regularly and are accompanied by other symptoms, such as chest pain, dizziness or shortness of breath, consult a doctor quickly, who will try to identify the cause. If, however, the heart palpitations cause a strong feeling of discomfort or loss of consciousness, contact the SAMU immediately (15).
Consult a healthcare professional for an update
“Symptoms related to stress and anxiety require medical consultation,” insists Dr. Bigot. In some cases, palpitations can hide heart disease, for example. If in doubt, it is better to consult, the doctor will proceed by elimination before concluding that these are symptoms truly related to anxiety. « We can’t easily relate everything to anxiety. And even if palpitations are simply related to stress, they can have a strong impact on daily life, and require appropriate care », continues the cardiologist. If necessary, the attending physician or general practitioner can refer the patient to a cardiac health professional, or to psychological care.
A healthy lifestyle can fight against the signs of anxiety and limit the effects of stress on the heart. To put the odds on your side:
- Adopt a balanced diet,
- Limit the consumption of alcohol and tobacco,
- Be sure to maintain a regular sleep pattern,
- Exercise daily (at least 30 minutes a day) to clear your mind and increase the production of anti-stress hormones,
- Bet on breathing and relaxation exercises, but also on activities such as yoga, sophrology or cardiac coherence.
- Take the time to give yourself moments of relaxation during the day, to read, listen to music, watch a series, walk outdoors, etc.
And if, despite everything, the anxiety continues to gain ground and interferes with your daily activities, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.
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