Take Caution: How Stress Can Literally Hurt Your Heart

Calm down & save your life

We know stress is bad for you, but new studies show the actual effects it can have on your heart. Upon studying those exposed to high-stress situations -- including veterans with PTSD, New Orleans residents six years after Hurricane Katrina and Greeks struggling through that country's financial turmoil -- researchers saw higher rates of cardiac problems. Doctors say disasters and prolonged stress can raise "fight or flight" hormones that affect blood pressure and blood sugar. They also provoke anger and helplessness and spur heart-harming behaviors like eating or drinking too much. A study of 207,954 veterans showed that 35 percent of those with PTSD (compared to 19 percent without) developed insulin resistance after a two year period, which can lead to diabetes and hardening of the arteries. But PTSD can also effect those who suffer trauma such as being raped, robbed at gunpoint or in a serious accident. (NBC News)

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