In the approaching Passover stress?

It may hurt your heart

Some people like family holidays, while for others it is a time full of stress.

The stress that comes before and during Pesach can take a heavy toll on you.

An expert explains what can be done and why it is important to check

Prof. Yaron Arbel

11/04/2022

Monday, 11 April 2022, 07:07 Updated: 08:51

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Young woman has had a heart attack after giving birth (Photo: Network 13)

Passover is another moment here, and this is good news for fans of family reunions between us.

However, this period is often accompanied by mental anguish and a lot of stress (stress), related to arrangements and organizations, financial expenses, and no less to the common family pressures surrounding holiday gatherings.

Stress can have many health effects, including heart health, and in extreme cases even trigger a heart attack.

In recent years, there have been an increasing number of studies examining and confirming the link between stress and heart disease and cardiac events.

Among other things, a study at Harvard found a link between stress and heart disease, and the researchers concluded that chronic stress should be considered as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Another study, also conducted by Harvard researchers, examined the link between stress at work and heart disease, and found that women with high levels of stress at work had a 40 percent increased risk of developing heart disease, heart attack, or the need for coronary artery bypass graft surgery. .

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These studies, and others alongside them, have focused on chronic stress, i.e. the long-term impact of stress on our health.

But what about acute point pressure?

Research shows that even extreme mental stress raises very high the level of stimulant hormones in the blood such as adrenaline, norepinephrine and dopamine, which cause increased action of the heart muscle.

And when there is an existing problem in the heart, the extreme stress and the chain of reactions that follow can cause arrhythmias and even a cardiac event.

It is important to note that stress is not a major and sole cause of a heart attack per se, however it can certainly aggravate existing conditions, of which we are sometimes not even aware.

Extreme stress can lead to arrhythmias and even a cardiac event.

Woman Holding Chest (Photo: ShutterStock, Creative Cat Studio)

In addition, in recent years, we are more aware of "Broken Heart Syndrome".

In this syndrome, people come to the hospital with complaints and laboratory tests that show that the patient is experiencing a heart attack, but it is not caused due to a blockage in one of the arteries of the heart but due to excess stress.

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Many of us are at risk for a heart attack - smokers, diabetics and those with high blood pressure, among others.

However, there are other factors that can produce a risk, such as those that are not characterized by previous symptoms, and especially a familial genetic predisposition to heart problems.

The problem is more severe but more so in women, who have different symptoms from those known and familiar that accompany heart problems, and therefore often ignore symptoms that may indicate a problem and diagnosing women for heart problems is delayed and even missed.

As a specialist cardiologist, my initial medical recommendation to the public is of course to balance risk factors - quitting smoking, adopting a healthy and active lifestyle, and maintaining a healthy diet.

However, there are risk factors, and stress is one of them, which are beyond our control.

This is why it is very important to get screening tests such as virtual catheterization in order to identify cardiac problems in advance.

As with other medical issues, early detection can save lives.

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• heart diseases

• Heart Attack

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• Passover