Stress is an automatic human response to difficult or overwhelming situations. When it is short lasting, it generally is beneficial in motivating us to achieve the difficult task but when the stress is prolonged then it generally causes unhealthy effects on our physical and psychological health. The stress response has an emotional or affective component which gives rise to a myriad of generally negative emotions like worry, fear, frustration, sadness and much more.
Dr. Trideep Choudhury, Consultant Psychiatrist, Department of mental health and behavioural sciences, Fortis New Delhi says, “One of the vital organs of our body which is affected by long standing stress is our heart. In response to stress, our body releases the stress hormone known as catecholamines. These stress hormones increase the oxygen demand of our body to enable our body to proactively respond to the stressor. Prolonged need for increased oxygen demand means the heart is overworking for prolonged duration.”
