Stress is without a doubt a big topic in our world today. Stress is an unavoidable feeling no matter how much you try to dodge it. Everyone experiences some kind of stress. Some more than others, but nonetheless we all deal with it. Stress tends to get a bad name because of our busy lives; however, some stress can actually be a good thing. Learning to manage moderate stress can be beneficial because you become stronger and better equipped to handle larger stress situations. Nevertheless, too much stress, just like anything can be harmful to your health.

Many people tend to associate stress with the burden that it can cause for your mental health. While this is true, there are many other underlying health risks beyond that. One in particular is the link between stress and high blood pressure. Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, refers to a condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high. Stress leading to high blood pressure may then cause more problems. Here are just four hidden dangers of high blood pressure. One is the breaking down of the blood vessels that occurs because of the constantly high pressure inside the blood vessels that eventually make them harden making it harder for them to expand and contract like they are supposed to. Two would be the damaging effects high blood pressure can have on the heart. When your heart is constantly under arterial high blood pressure, it has to work that much harder. This may cause wear and tear on the heart and eventually lead to the heart wearing out. Third would be the damaging effects that high blood pressure can have on the kidneys. High blood pressure can cause scarring of the kidneys. When they become scarred they are not able to filter out blood as well as they once could. This may lead to kidney disease if your kidneys cannot filter blood correctly. The last damaging effect from high blood pressure is brain damage. High blood pressure is the leading cause for stroke and can have damaging effects on the brain because of not having enough oxygen delivered to the brain.

So, what can you do to destress and help your heart. There are three that we recommend starting with that can help you destress and hopefully help you reap the benefits of a healthy heart.

1. Be still and silent. Start by finding a quiet place with no distractions. Spend at least 15 minutes here letting yourself close your eyes and think of a single positive thought and clear your head of any negativity that may be dragging you down.
2. Be proactive. If you find yourself in a stressful situation with your mind racing. Take some time to write down everything that you need to get done and don’t let your thoughts get all tangled up. This way you can accomplish one goal at a time.
3. Get active. Moving around is a good way to calm the nerves and working out things that might be causing you frustration. Jogging, riding a bike, stretching, getting outside and yoga are all great places to start.