Medi-Clinic news: Manage stress and reduce your risk of heart disease

“Psychosocial factors, for example psychological stress, are widely believed to be important determinants of heart disease,” says Dr. Hannes Loots, Advisor: Clinical Governance at Medi-Clinic Head Office. “Exposures to such factors may influence health directly through neuroendocrine (the nervous and endocrine systems of the body) mechanisms or indirectly, through their association with unhealthy behaviour,” says Dr. Loots.

It is therefore not stress in itself that causes heart disease or stroke, but an unhealthy response to stress that may lead to other risky behaviours such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and following unhealthy diets.

Combined with other risk factors like physical inactivity, high blood cholesterol, and a family history of cardiovascular disease, high levels of stress can contribute largely to your risk of heart disease or stroke.

"It is important to understand that we all need stress," says Dr Johann Oostenbrink a specialists in organisational development in private practice at the Vergelegen Medi-Clinic in Somerset West.

"Without a certain level of stress life can become rather boring," Dr Oostenbrink says. "Stress can bring out the best in you, inspiring you to perform at your very best. This type of stress is called 'eu-stress' or good stress," he explains.

But, he says, tension can also be your enemy which paralyses you, high-jacking your focus and energy from the job at hand. It can even cause you to become dysfunctional – be it in your decision-making, sex life, and seemingly routine tasks such driving in busy traffic, handling telephone calls, or coping with the responsibilities of parenting.

"When your life is marked by never-ending stress, it can lead to feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, depression and even burnout. This is 'dis-stress' or bad stress," Dr Oostenbrink explains.

Managing your stress is part of a healthy and happy lifestyle. After a stressful situation stress hormone levels need to drop so that you can relax and regain your energy. However, when that does not happen and the stressful conditions continue, or when you keep on getting worked up by minor issues it can cause huge damage – not only physically, but also mentally, emotionally and relational.

The inability to concentrate, feeling tiresome and unwell and taking lots of sick leave could indicate that you might be suffering from severe tension, and that you need help managing stressful situations better.

Dr Oostenbrink shares a number of guidelines on managing stress at the office.

Embrace and employ good stress (eu-stress)

Stress comes with life – it is part of the package. When under strain, make peace with it, and start to use it for your own benefit. The more realistic and optimistic you are about stress the better you will be able to use and manage it positively.

Deal with the past

Some people are highly susceptible to stress due to baggage from past experiences. Consequently bitterness, inner pain or unrealistic fears and worries can shape your perspective on life and people in a very unhealthy way. It may be time to talk about the past and deal with it.

Know yourself

What is stressful to one person may not be stressful to another. A specific situation is rarely stressful in itself. What causes one person to panic (e.g. leading a group of people), can be fun and exciting to another.

Positive Self-talk

You can radically reduce your stress if you change your thinking about your stressors. Negative and pessimistic self-talk weakens your ability to cope with stressful situations. Condition yourself to employ optimistic self-talk or thoughts about yourself, others, and your circumstances.

Manage your time

The art of time management is not to get as many as things done as possible, but to do the right things at the right time as effective as possible. Plan and focus your time around those things that are really important to you. Delegate everything you can, and make time to celebrate successes.

Balance between work and play

Build in time to play and rest, do sport, go for a walk, or enjoy a hobby.

Develop a strong support system

Healthy relationships reduce stress tremendously. The opposite is also true: dysfunctional relationships can cause a lot of strain.

Create a pleasant climate at home and work

Create a happy environment in which you can thrive. Change or re-organise things at work to make life easier and more interesting. Be intentional about noticing and enjoying the good things in life.

Face your problems and solve them

“Procrastination is the thief of time”, but is also a big cause for unnecessary pressure. Running away from problems, very seldom let them disappear. Deal with them as soon and effective as possible.

Get help

Get help from a professional person, such as a psychologist, life coach or pastor. A trusted friend or family member can also offer wonder support.

Time to pray and meditate

Apart from mental and emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence is of central importance. This helps to connect to the deeper meaning and purpose of your life.

For more information on living with a healthy heart, contact the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa.

Dr Johann Oostenbrink
Camino Consulting
Vergelegen Medi-Clinic
Tel: 021 – 852 2958
www.camino.co.za