Our bodies are designed to feel stress and react to it
If stress it self is a risk factor for heart disease, it could be because chronic stress exposes your body to unhealthy, persistently elevated levels of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
Studies also link stress to changes in the way blood clots, which increases the risk of heart attack.
The effects of chronic stress can create significant damage to the cardiovascular system by increasing the risk of coronary artery disease, elevating blood pressure, increasing atherosclerosis, increasing risk of myocardial infarction, increasing the risk of diabetes, and increasing the likelihood of obesity.
Stress is a reaction to changes that require you to adjust or respond. Our bodies are designed to feel stress and react to it.
Effects of Chronic Stress on the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Systems
Scientific research indicates chronic stress can:
- increase the risk of coronary heart disease
- elevate blood pressure
- increase atherosclerosis
- increase risk of mycardial infarction
- increase risk of diabetes
- increase risk of obesity
Reference: McEwan BS. Protective and Damaging effects of stress mediators. New England Journal of Medicine. 1983;338(3):171-179
However, it’s not always possible to avoid change or the situations that can cause stress; and as a result, you can begin to feel overwhelmed and unable to cope.
The regular practice of Vedic Meditation creates a more rapid recovery from stressful stimulus, and a reversal of symptomatology associated with severe and chronic stress.
Related Research findings:
Effects of Chronic Stress on the Brain
Chronic stress creates excessive levels of cortisol in the brain, impairing the function, short term and contextual memory …
Effects of Stress on the Immune System
Chronic stress affects the immune system by increasing sympathetic activity and decreasing cellular immunity …
Normal and Abnormal Responses to Stress
When stressed, your body creates extra energy to protect itself, somehow the energy must be channeled into responses to regain a balance …
The Biochemical Response to Stress
Chronic acute stress leads to an out of balance biochemistry with elevated cortisol and suppressed serotonin, consequently, stress plays a major causative role in both physical and mental health …
Our immune system weakens, we tend to be more reative (rather than responsive), more gaurded, defensive (crying over spilt milk), and most importantly – our quality of life, our life satisfaction is lowered.
Vedic Meditation is one of the most powerful techniques available for reducing stress and anxiety. That means that you no longer store as much stress and tension in your body and start responding to life with a positive attitude – relaxed, resliient and care free. It is also one of the easiest to learn and simplest to practice.
If you are in Auckland (NZ) call me on 09 419 5380, or email to to find our how Vedic Meditation could help you achieve better health.