Madrid, May 17, 2023.
Anxiety is a normal emotion that everyone experiences at certain times in life, but it can also have a negative impact on health if it occurs chronically or severely. This behavior makes people more vulnerable to high blood pressure and heart attacks.
Dr. Manuel de la Peña, president of the European Institute of Health and Social Welfare and professor of cardiology, stresses that chronic anxiety has been identified as a risk factor for myocardial infarction. In fact, a study conducted by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) suggests that it is associated with a 20% increased risk of myocardial infarction. In addition, chronic anxiety can lead to increased stress and dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, which in turn can contribute to a variety of cardiovascular conditions, including high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and changes in heart rate. on the function of the heart. De la Peña adds that “anxiety is not only psychologically damaging, but also physiologically, since it can generate palpitations, that is, a sensation characterized by rapid and violent heartbeats, which can be felt both in the chest and neck, and especially when we lie down in bed”. In some cases they are associated with cardiac pathologies such as arrhythmias, such as extrasystoles or atrial fibrillation. In these cases, it is necessary to perform an electrocardiogram or even a holter to confirm that sinus rhythm is maintained, that is, normal, and thus rule out irregular heartbeats. Apart from anxiety, there are several additional risk factors to be a candidate to a myocardial infarction. These include age, sex, obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high LDL cholesterol, high lipoprotein a, sedentary lifestyle, stress, and family history of cardiovascular disease. In fact, increases in blood pressure are associated with stressful situations. And it must be taken into account that the sum of these factors has a synergistic effect, that is, it multiplies the risk of heart attack. De la Peña affirms that the best way to prevent myocardial infarction is to lead a healthy lifestyle. This means exercising regularly, as exercise helps you relax and maintain a healthy weight, improves your mood, and increases energy. This includes walking, running, swimming, bicycling, yoga, or dancing. You have to try to schedule at least 30 minutes of exercise a day to be beneficial to health. And it can be divided into two or three 10-minute sessions. It also points out that it is of great importance to have a heart-healthy diet, limit the consumption of foods rich in saturated fats, trans fats, added sugars and processed foods, not smoking, limit consumption of alcohol and control stress levels. If anxiety symptoms occur, it is important to learn relaxation techniques, deep diaphragmatic breathing, music therapy and meditation to learn to manage emotions and control calm. If even so the palpitations are not controlled, one solution will be the use of a beta-blocker, such as bisoprolol in low doses, to protect the heart from irregular beats. De la Peña, in addition to being a professor of cardiology, is an Academic, Doctor Cum Laude and writer. The books he has published are: “Heart Treatise” (2010), “Patients’ Needs” (2010), “Cardiopatients” (2010), “Healthy Companies” (2010), “e-Health” (2010) , “Health Excellence: patients, innovation and technologies” (2009), “Patient Satisfaction” (2008), “Tobacco Control” (2006), “WHO Health Surveillance Guide” (2002), “Quality in Health Care” (1999), “Cardiocheck” (1993). And author of the blog El poder de curar.
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