Being a heart patient can be very stressful. Much of the stress is due to a fear of the unknown. Will my condition get worse? What will the test feel like? How will my condition affect my life? How can I handle all my other responsibilities while attending to my heart condition?

Becoming overwhelmed by all that stress may make matters worse. Frequent or lasting chronic episodes of stress can lead to a faster heartbeat, stronger heart muscle contractions, constricted blood vessels or higher blood pressure. In turn, these factors can increase your risk of cardiac events such as a heart attack or stroke. 

Fortunately, you are not at the mercy of your body’s natural stress response. You can learn to identify factors that increase your stress and learn stress management techniques. It is unreasonable - and not advisable - to completely eliminate stress from your life. Rather, you should focus on controlling stress to reduce its negative effect. Practicing stress management techniques can help promote better physical and psychological health.