The Bridge Between Stress & Heart Attacks

In today's world, stress has become a force to be reckoned with.

Whether it's rushing to get to a work meeting, an unpleasant fight with your significant other, or dealing with a family crisis, stress has crept its way into your life, creating damage to your health.

When you are experiencing stress, your body produces high levels of cortisol and adrenaline to help prepare yourself for the "fight-or-flight" response it's about to take.

Doctors have believed that chronic stress could lead to cardiovascular disease; however, the exact mechanism had not been identified until now.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School conducted a study to investigate this correlation.

What they found was this: stress causes an overproduction of white blood cells, which defend the body against diseases but can also cause problems when produced in excess. These extra cells can stick to artery walls, causing restrictions in blood flow and aiding in the formation of clots that can cause blood vessel blockages throughout your body.

Is there a way to reduce your stress?

If you've ever been stressed, the last thing you want to hear is to "just relax and breathe." Wouldn't you be doing that if you weren't stressed? One thing you can do, however, is evaluate your current lifestyle and see if there's room to make any changes.

You also may want to schedule a doctor's visit and set up some testing to see if everything in your body is currently okay... and evaluate further options if you need to.

You can also incorporate nutrients and supplements for inflammation support, building a strong immune system to help promote a healthy heart.

What else can you do to lower your stress levels and avoid your risk of a heart attack later in your life?

Dr. Beverly Yates joins Dr. Mike to discuss the recent Harvard Medical Study, why prolonged stress can cause heart attacks and ways you can reduce your stress levels.