My stroke was inherited, a Protein S deficiency which causes blood clots. And you probably know the rest and the reason this blog came about.
I’ve been quite stressed lately because I’ve been inside, no thanks to the pandemic, and I thought, bordering on overthinking, would stress give a person a stroke? Or a second stroke?
Most people already understand that high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking increase a person’s risk of stroke. But without those negative situations, can plain old stress cause a stroke? Unfortunately, studies have shown so, all around the world. Just a sampling….
The Copenhagen City Heart Study, who asked people about their stress levels and analyzed their health, concludes, “Self-reported high-stress intensity and weekly stress were associated with a higher risk of fatal stroke compared with no stress.”
Researcher Ana Maria Garcia, MD, of the Hospital Clinico Universitario San Carlos in Madrid, says, “Our findings indicate that people can lower their stroke risk by attempting to reduce the stress in their lives. The study included 150 people who’d had strokes and 300 randomly selected people who had not had strokes. The average age of the participants was 54, which is much younger than the typical stroke patient.”
Garcia says that studying the correlation of stress on stroke was easier in younger people who had strokes because they were less likely to have health issues like high blood pressure that have been linked to stroke.
It’s the chronic stress, not once-in-a-while stress, that can cause a stroke. Here is a list of many signs that you’re in a stressful situation:
- Chest pain
- Sudden headaches
- Low energy
- Stomach problems such as diarrhea
- Tense muscles
- Shaking and/or cold sweaty hands
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth and difficulty swallowing
Stress can also cause emotional and cognitive issues such as the onslaught of frustration regularly or constant memory loss. Since there is a strong tie between stress and stroke, it’s important to find ways to incorporate lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet, doing meaningful exercises, and practicing meditation.
