Stress and the heart: Lessons from the pandemic – . Health Blog

The effects of COVID-19 have been far-reaching, with more than seven million confirmed cases and more than 200,000 deaths in the US alone. COVID-19 has created additional health care implications. For example, patients have delayed finding treatment for serious symptoms because they fear exposure to COVID-19. However, the consequences of COVID-19 extend beyond healthcare and affect our financial, social and emotional wellbeing on a daily basis.

As we try to cope with this new normal, we will learn about the long-term effects of these difficulties. Doctors have already started studying the effects of COVID-related stress and anxiety on people around the world.

Physical Effects of Stress

Stress can have real physical effects on the body and has been linked to a wide variety of health problems. Stress directly activates our sympathetic nervous system and triggers a fight or flight response that can increase blood pressure and blood sugar. While stress may be beneficial in the short term from an evolutionary point of view, if it is chronic, it can make high blood pressure and diabetes worse. Stress can disrupt our sleep and lead us to choose unhealthy foods when looking for comfort foods or giving up portion control.

A recent study suggests that stress from the pandemic may already be affecting our heart health.

The link between stress and heart health

Stress cardiomyopathy, also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy and broken heart syndrome, is a heart disease characterized by sudden onset of chest pain and abnormal heart function, which mimics a heart attack. However, contrary to what is seen during a heart attack, doctors cannot find any evidence of a blood clot or abnormalities in heart blood flow.

Typical patients with stress cardiomyopathy are postmenopausal women who suddenly experience chest pain and shortness of breath. The relationship between stress and stress cardiomyopathy is well documented; People with stress cardiomyopathy often experience emotional or physical stress in the week leading up to their illness. The exact mechanism of this response is not clearly known, but researchers have noted changes in blood flow to the brain and in the transmission of signals from stress-related hormones.

Emotional triggers for stress cardiomyopathy include the death of a spouse or family member, divorce or interpersonal conflict, and natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. It is obvious that living with the chronic stress of a global pandemic could trigger this syndrome as well.

Pandemic stress is already affecting heart health

A study recently published on JAMA Network Open attempted to measure the impact of COVID-19-related stress on our health by looking at the prevalence of stress cardiomyopathy during the pandemic. The researchers compared the incidence of stress cardiomyopathy during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 1 to April 30, 2020) with the incidence of stress cardiomyopathy in three previous periods (2018, 2019, and earlier in 2020). It is important that all patients included in the study tested negative for COVID-19.

The researchers found that stress cardiomyopathy increased significantly during the COVID-19 period, with stress cardiomyopathy more than four times as common as usual in March and April 2020.

Fortunately, heart function in people with stress cardiomyopathy usually recovers over a week or two, and the prognosis is generally good. Affected patients, however, have an increased risk of recurrence.

Take steps to manage stress

This study is a cautionary story regarding the effects of stress. It is a good reminder that we should all strive to minimize and improve our dealings with stress even during these difficult times. Some practical tips for managing stress, including choosing healthy foods, getting regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and connecting with friends and family.