Can Stress Cause a Stroke? Everything You Should Know

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Are you feeling stressed out? Stress can cause you headaches, upset your stomach, and can even rob you of sleep. We all know that too much stress is not good for one’s health but there is another side of stress which is known as eustress or positive stress, which can be beneficial and motivating. It can help individuals perform better in challenging situations.

However, too much stress can harm your health, research shows that emotional stress can increase your risk of stroke and other cardiovascular issues. When stress lasts for a long time it can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, and even strokes.

Can Stress Cause a Stroke?

Managing stress by several stress management techniques such as mindfulness, exercise, and social support can help you effectively manage stress and promote overall health. Stress can cause your heart to work harder, increase your blood pressure, and even increase your sugar and fat levels in the blood.

According to research, there is a link between both emotional stress and stroke, be it long-term or short-term. Stress alone won’t cause a stroke but chronic stress increases the chance of having a stroke. A stroke is caused when part of the brain does not get the blood and nutrients it needs. Face drooping, Arm weakness, and speech difficulty are some of the symptoms of stroke, and recognizing these symptoms quickly and seeking immediate medical help can improve the outcomes.

Research of 26000 participants found that self-reported stress within the previous 12 months was connected with an elevated risk of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

Stress is different for everyone. Meaning that a school test must be more difficult for a child than for an adult, or that leading a team can be stressful for some but not for others, or that blood can generate stress for some but not for surgeons who do surgery regularly. This means that stress is linked to stroke independent of work type, location, or income level.

What type of stroke is caused by stress?

Stress is associated with two main types of strokes: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke.

1. Ischemic Stroke:

This is the most common type of stroke.
Occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain is interrupted, due to a blood clot.
Chronic stress leads to conditions like high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. According to a 2014 study, high levels of stress increase the risk of transient ischemic stroke.
Stress can also trigger acute events that may lead to clot formation.

2. Hemorrhagic Stroke:

Occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, which causes bleeding around the brain.
According to MayoClinic “The body releases a surge of hormones when under stress. These hormones cause the heart to beat faster and the blood vessels to narrow. These actions increase blood pressure for a time“.
Both ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke can be influenced by stress, managing stress effectively is important for reducing the risk of both types of strokes.

Can stress increase other stroke risk factors?

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Stress can also amplify various risk factors all of which can increase the risk of a stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, people who are stressed may do the following:

Exercise less
Smoke
Consume alcohol
Emotional eating(eat more or less)
Isolate themselves

How Does Stress Cause Stroke?

Stress can significantly increase the risk of stroke through several mechanisms. Here’s how stress can contribute to stroke:

1. High cholesterol levels

Stress can raise blood cholesterol levels, contributing to atherosclerosis, where arteries become stiff and narrow.

2. High blood pressure

Stress-induced high blood pressure is common. Chronic high blood pressure can damage nerves, including those in the brain, increasing the risk of stroke.

3. Elevated blood glucose levels

Stress can raise blood glucose levels, leading to atherosclerosis and subsequent blockage of blood vessels in the brain.

5. Coping with negative behaviors

Some people may engage in unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, drugs, and alcohol, all of which increase the risk of stroke.

6. Stress-induced hypertension

Stress releases hormones that cause muscles to tighten (hard muscles), the more the stress increases the more the blood pressure rises.

7. Frequent fluctuations in blood pressure

Constant stress can cause blood pressure to rise and fall dramatically. Over time, these changes can damage the brain and the nerves that supply it.

8. Emotional and environmental stress

Factors consisting of occupational strain, racism, and other environmental stressors can contribute to high blood pressure. Many stressors exacerbate this effect, further increasing the chance of stroke.

9. Influence of social elements

Some way-of-life factors associated with pressure, which include despair, and occasional things that people go through may increase the chance of stroke due to stress.

What steps can you take to prevent a stroke?

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To retain a healthy blood pressure, keep a check on it frequently and speak with your healthcare expert. Conduct adjustments, such as hindering salt intake, keeping an appropriate weight, and working out, can all assist in regulating blood pressure levels.
Preserve healthy cholesterol levels using diet, physical activity, and, if required, medicines. Maintain a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods while avoiding saturated fats.
Attain a healthy weight by feeding a balanced diet and taking part in consistent workouts. Obesity is a major risk factor for strokes.
Endure regular physical activity and aim for at least 150 minutes of reasonable workout every week.
Alcohol and smoking are the two main enemies of your heart and overall health. No study suggests that drinking or smoking in a particular amount causes a stroke but it is recommended to consume up to 1-2 alcoholic beverages in a day. Heavy alcohol drinkers and smokers are more susceptible to a stroke.
Being calm even in a stressful situation is a skill that everyone should learn, to accomplish this you should add stress management techniques such as mindfulness, yoga, meditation, and several deep breathing exercises to your daily routine.

Conclusion:

Stress is an inevitable part of life, but coping well with it is important for your health and reduces your risk of stroke, among other health risks. Managing stress effectively through multiple stress management strategies such as mindfulness, exercise, and social support can contribute to better stress management. To shield yourself, it’s far vital to undertake a heart-healthful lifestyle. This consists of keeping a balanced eating regimen apart from stress management techniques such as mindfulness, yoga, meditation, and several deep breathing exercises in your daily routine to manage your stress and avoid health risks.