5 stress busters to help your heart

Easing stress is one key to a healthier heart

Stress that persists day after day - from a traffic-choked commute, an unhappy relationship, or a heavy workload - is linked to a wide range of health problems. Many people know first-hand that chronic stress can sour mood, sleep, and appetite. Fewer realize that chronic stress can also harm the heart, or what they can do to counter it.

How does long-term stress harm the heart?

Chronic stress produces persistent low-grade inflammation in the body, which raises the risk of heart disease. The mood, sleep, and appetite changes that come with constant stress can contribute as well.

Stress may also raise the risk of heart attack and other heart conditions in subtler ways. Under stress, some of us reach for unhealthy food or lack the energy and time to exercise. Stress can also feed heart-damaging habits like smoking and drinking too much alcohol.

5 great ways to destress

Breaking the link between chronic stress and heart disease means finding tools that help you cope and build healthier habits. These five simple tips can help.

Tap into laughter. Laughter has been found to lower stress-hormone levels and reduce inflammation in the arteries. Silly shows, corny jokes, and funny animal videos all count.

Meditate. Setting aside time for inward-focused thought combined with deep breathing reduces heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure. Meditative practices like yoga, tai chi, mindfulness, and prayer can relax both mind and body.

Try activity. Every time you move - a walk, a game of tennis - your brain releases mood-boosting chemicals called endorphins. Short bursts of exercise can ease symptoms of anxiety and depression. And regular exercise not only relieves stress, it also protects against heart disease by lowering blood pressure, strengthening the heart muscle, and helping you keep a healthy weight.

Unplug. There is no escaping stress when it follows you everywhere. Cut the cord: avoid emails and TV news, and take time each day - even just 10 or 15 minutes - to step out of the world.

Find ways to destress. Simple pleasures - a relaxing bath, music, time in nature, or a favorite hobby - can give you a much-needed break from the stressors in your life.