The resulting stress can lead to some serious problems — one of them being an increased risk of suffering a stroke!

Can Stress Cause A Stroke? The Answer May Shock You!

The pressures of managing an increasingly challenging work-life balance take its
toll on our mental health. And the resulting stress can lead to some serious
problems — one of them being an increased risk of suffering a stroke!

Table of contents

 * How Does Stress Increase Your Chances Of A Stroke?
 * How Does A Stroke Happen?
 * What Exactly Happens During Stress?
 * How To Find Out If You Are Stressed?
 * How To Get Rid Of The Stress?

How Does Stress Increase Your Chances Of A Stroke?
Scientists have found that people who have heightened activity in the amygdala —
the part of the brain commonly linked to stress — are more likely to develop
cardiovascular disease. It contributes to aggravating health risks like 
hypertension, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, obesity, heart problems
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/7-major-stroke-risk-factors/], etc. These
health issues are categorized as ‘high risk factors’ for a stroke.

It has been found in a study that stress apparently raises the risk of a Stroke
or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
[http://www.neofect.com/us/blog/ministroke-and-stroke-what-should-we-do/] by
59%. A TIA is a mini-stroke caused by a temporary blockage of blood flow to the
brain.

Additionally, stress leads to developing harmful habits like smoking, which is
again a well-established risk factor for a stroke.

How Does A Stroke Happen?
There are two kinds of strokes that could happen!

1. Hemorrhagic Stroke
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/what-are-the-different-types-of-stroke/]:
Bleeding in the brain causes this kind of stroke. A weak spot in the wall of the
vessel can, in turn, cause an aneurysm (bulging of the vessel wall). The vessels
can become weak also by chronic high blood pressure and sometimes, they break
from the force.

When the vessel breaks, the blood leaks into surrounding tissue. It thereby
hampers the passage of oxygen and nutrients to the brain.

2. Ischemic Stroke
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/what-are-the-different-types-of-stroke/]:
This happens because of blocked arteries, which can be caused owing to a buildup
of cholesterol.

It should be noted, that a person who has a comparatively healthy lifestyle and
has the right body weight, will be able to handle periodic high stress, without
much of a problem.

But, if the stress becomes chronic, it can cause a stroke. For people who
already have major health issues, stress can be a highly probable cause for
stroke. A person who is genetically predisposed to hypertension, diabetes,
obesity etc, is also at a higher risk for stroke caused by stress
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/7-major-stroke-risk-factors/].




What Exactly Happens During Stress?
Chronic stress results in continuous high levels of cortisol and other stress
hormones. This can cause retention of salt, which will then increase the bodily
blood pressure. With time, this causes stress on blood vessels.

Stress can also cause blood sugar to increase, due to which the vessels can’t
dilate or contract to control blood flow better.

Disruption in sleep cycles can be a result of increased levels of cortisol. 
Fatigue is the natural progression to this. Thereby, a person might exercise and
eat poorly. This is a vicious cycle that can cause any of the various health
issues that are responsible for strokes.

How To Find Out If You Are Stressed?
People usually ignore stress and don’t take the necessary steps to deal with it.
At the same time, it is impossible to measure the levels of stress — it depends
entirely on the tolerance levels of a person!

Some could be stressed owing to the pressures of a job, or some could be facing
the stress of dealing with difficult relationships. The extent to which one can
handle it determines the severity of stress.

However, you could pay attention to these subtle signs, to know if you are
stressed!

 * Do your family members and close friends keep asking you if you are stressed?
 * Do you find yourself at odds with them, more frequently?
 * Have you stopped doing things that used to make you happy?
 * Do you find it difficult to fall or stay asleep, compared to your normal
   patterns?
 * Do you delay getting out of bed, especially if you know the day is going to
   be stressful?
 * Do you find an increase in the number of cigarettes you smoke or has your
   intake of alcohol suddenly increased?

If you find yourself nodding to most or all of these questions, it might be time
to take a step back and look for ways to manage the stress, before it causes
some serious trouble!


How To Get Rid Of The Stress?

Here are some habits you can implement in your day-to-day life to ensure that
you aren’t too stressed!

1. Exercise!
People who exercise regularly are less likely to experience anxiety as against
people who don’t. Exercise helps release endorphins, which improve your mood and
act as natural painkillers. Exercising regularly can also help regulate your
sleep patterns, and boost your confidence by improving your overall appearance!

2. Maintain A Healthy Diet!
Make sure your diet includes a healthy mix of green leafy vegetables, water, and
less caffeine. High doses of coffee, tea, chocolate and energy drinks can
increase anxiety! Test your sensitivity to caffeine before cutting down on it
entirely.

3. Laugh… A Lot!
Laughing can help relieve tension by relaxing the muscles. In the long term too,
laughter can improve your immune system and mood.

A study among people with cancer found that people in the laughter intervention
group experienced more stress relief than those who were simply distracted.

4. Spend Time With Family and Friends!
Having a rich social life can alleviate stress. Spending time with the people
you love releases oxytocin that is a natural stress reliever!

5. Learn To Say No!
Not all factors causing stress are within your control. But, you can always try
to be selective of the responsibilities you take on, especially when it comes to
work. Taking on more than you can handle, and then trying to juggle it all
successfully, can cause a lot of stress.

6. Be Mindful Of Procrastination!
Prioritize your tasks — and stay on top of it! Prepare a to-do list every day,
and give yourself realistic deadlines. This way you can avoid the last-minute
stress of trying to get too much done in a short period!

7. Cultivate Hobbies!
Having hobbies can give you the much-needed break from the routine, and refresh
your mind. Often, distraction is the best remedy for stress. Listening to music,
some light reading, painting, or something you enjoy doing, can work wonders for
your stress levels!

8. Get A Pet!
If you aren’t allergic to fur, you can always think of getting a pet. Pets can
be incredible stress relievers. They keep you active and provide companionship,
which can improve your mood by leaps and bounds!

Do not deprive yourself of anything, but make sure your body and mind do not
fall into the trap of chronic stress. If you feel that the stress you face in
your life is bogging you down, seek help. Pronto. You can lower the risk of
getting a stroke by about 24%!!


--
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