Chemical Stressors
In this photo, I used smoking as an example of how chemicals can have an unhealthy impact on the normal function of the heart. Drugs, both recreational and prescription, would be another example. Lesser known examples would be environmental exposure to chemicals in the home, personal care products, and the outside environment. Exposure to mold, mercury, aluminum, and pesticides are all examples of chemical stressors that can have an unhealthy affect on heart physiology.
Emotional Stressors
There is a link between emotions and heart health. Emotional stress includes, but is not limited to fear or being frightened, anger, frustration, grief, depression, and tension are all examples of emotional stress. In these situations, the body releases hormones and enters the “flight or fight” response. These hormones increase the speed of your heart rate and constrict the blood vessels to redirect blood to the center of the body. People exposed to long-term emotional stress increase their chances of high blood pressure and heart disease.
Nutritional Stressors
The least obvious and the potential to have the most significant long term effects on a person’s health and wellness is nutritional stress. We all know clean organic, whole foods equate to good health, but we don’t know just how much our bodies malfunction in reaction to eating foods that we know we shouldn’t eat.