January 2026
Throughout life, it’s common to encounter many forms of stress —caregiving, sitting in traffic, work pressures, relationship problems, financial crises, divorce, or the death of a loved one. While stress is a natural part of life, chronic stress can become a serious health condition that can take a toll on your heart health if left untreated.
Psychological stress is linked to a 40% to 60% increased risk of heart disease, according to a report in The American Journal of Medicine (AJM). The risk is greater in people with existing heart conditions or those at high risk for heart disease compared to healthier people.
How stress affects heart health
Here’s how the two main types of stress affect your heart health, according to the American Psychological Association (APA):
Acute stress. This stress is short-term and occurs suddenly. Examples include having a heated argument, rushing to meet a deadline, or slamming on the brakes to avoid an accident.
Acute stress triggers your body’s “fight or flight” response, releasing stress hormones like adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol. These hormones act as messengers between your heart and blood vessels, causing your heart muscles to squeeze harder and your heart rate to increase.
At the same time, blood vessels leading to your heart and large muscles dilate (expand), pumping more blood into these areas and raising your blood pressure. When the acute episode is over, your body returns to its normal state.
In people with heart disease, severe acute stress can also trigger chest pain, an irregular heartbeat, and even a heart attack, according to the AJM report.
Chronic stress. This is stress you continue to feel over a long period of time. It’s like acute stress that never fully goes away. Over time, chronic stress can lead to long-term damage to your heart and blood vessels.
Chronic stress increases your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that also increases your risk for CVD.
People with high levels of chronic stress are more likely to die from heart disease or stroke, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
Stress and unhealthy behaviors
To cope with stress, you may do harmful things that further increase your risk of heart disease, including:
- Eating an unhealthy diet or overeating.
- Drinking too much alcohol.
- Not getting enough physical activity.
- Not taking medications as prescribed.
- Smoking.
Signs and symptoms of stress
Stress can impact nearly every system in your body. If you’re experiencing any of these unexplained signs or symptoms, it may be time to seek help to get your stress under control:
- Body aches and pain, especially in the shoulders or lower back.
- Feeling angry, cranky, forgetful, or out of control.
- Headaches, including migraines or tension headaches.
- Lack of energy.
- Problems sleeping.
- Stomach pain or feeling sick to your stomach.
Reducing stress for better heart health
To manage stress, the AHA recommends:
- Exercising regularly. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week.
- Getting enough sleep. Aim for at least seven hours of sleep per night.
- Getting professional help for depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions. Chronic stress is linked to anxiety and major depression.
- Maintaining social connections and spending time with people you trust.
- Practicing relaxation techniques, including mindfulness and meditation.
