Psychological stress or tension is now recognized as the most important risk factor of coronary heart disease. With more and more scientific research results pouring in over the last 2 decades we have come to know that excessive stress can lead to the following:

1.   Increase in blood pressure.

2. Increase in the heart rate.

3. Increased concentration of fat in blood.

4. Increased blood sugar.

5. Increased cholesterol in blood.

6. Spasm of coronary and other arteries.

7. Increased blood clotting.

8. Increased deposition of fat and cholesterol in the arteries.

This means that stress is such an influential risk factor that even in the absence of other risk factors it can by itself become responsible for coronary heart disease. I have seen many people without high cholesterol, overweight and family history, having normal blood pressure developing angina only because of excessive stress.

The problem with stress is that there are no means of measuring it even with the latest scientific gadgets. There is no unit, such as ml, mm, kg, etc., to define it. Because of this reason modern science and cardiologists have specifically abstained from talking about stress in heart disease. It is now known that city dwellers have 3 times more chances of getting heart disease than those in small villages, the major reason being excessive stress in city life.

Research has also revealed that a particular type of people (Type-A behaviour) who are aggressive, always short of time, short-tempered and stressful are much more prone to develop heart disease. Most young heart patients of modern day have Type-A behaviour.

It is obvious that without controlling stress we cannot stop the advancement of heart disease. Sudden stress or anger leads to the spasm of coronary arteries which precipitates sudden angina and heart attacks. This is the reason why many people develop heart attack when they are excessively strained or hear bad news.

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