Mental stress associated with coronary artery calcification

We have all heard that excessive stress is unhealthy. The research referred to here investigated the association between cortisol response and a marker of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis (Hamer M., et al., 2009). Cortisol is a stress hormone.

The participants were exposed to mental stress through certain tasks. Coronary artery calcification was measured using electron beam computed tomography.

The participants who responded to the test with increased cortisol indicating increased stress was approximately 40%. That group also demonstrated a higher risk of significant coronary artery calcification.

How can we be more stress resistant? Exercise and meditation can both help us respond with less stress when exposed to stressful situations. The key is to do it regularly and incorporate these habits into your lifestyle.

To read the original abstract, click on the reference below.


Reference:

Mark Hamer, Katie O'Donnell, Avijit Lahiri, and Andrew Steptoe. Salivary cortisol responses to mental stress are associated with coronary artery calcification in healthy men and women. Eur. Heart J., Advance Access published on September 10, 2009; doi: doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehp386.