Can emotional stress cause heart problems?

Question

I had a bad breakup with my boyfriend back in August (very violent, very stressful) , and since then I've been having shortness of breath and episodes where my chest tightens and my heart beats very quickly, and I often feel faint.

It's not an anxiety attack, I've had those before. I've also been getting very lightheaded, and I have even collapsed a few times while walking. Sometimes during these episodes, my blood pressure drops very low, and my arms and legs become numb or tingly.

I'm only 19 years old... what could this be? I have no money to go see a doctor.

Yes, but it happens now even when nothing triggers it. It's been almost a year since the breakup, and I still get episodes of this when I'm not even stressed out.

Answer 1

Stress and Metabolic Syndrome
Important New Findings According to a study by the British Medical Journal, chronic stress has been linked to the development of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as other conditions. Here are the highlights of the study:

* Researchers followed 10,308 British civil servants aged 35-55 over a 14-year period to sutdy the role of chronic job stress in the development of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
* They examined the link between chronic job stress and metabolic syndrome, which is a group of factors that, together, increase the risk of these diseases, including high blood pressure, insulin resistance, central obesity (excessive abdominal fat, which has been linked to increased cortisol in the bloodstream, as well as several other health problems), and a few other factors.
* They found that greater levels of job stress did indeed increase people’s chances of developing metabolic syndrome. The higher the stress level, the greater the chance of developing metabolic syndrome.
* Social factors played a role as well. Lucky subjects with higher status jobs were less likely to have the syndrome, and those with lower status jobs were at a higher risk.
* They also examined and discovered a link between metabolic syndrome and exposure to other health damaging behaviors like smoking, heavy drinking and lack of exercise, especially in men. Poor diet was also a risk factor, and tended to show up in the form of few fruits and vegetables. These factors, of course, lead to additional health problems as well as additional stress.
* One possible explanation for this are that prolonged job stress may affect the nervous system. Another possible reason for this is the fact that chronic stress may affect the body’s hormonal balance.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Well, from my standpoint palpitations come in two flavors: those caused by one of any number of arrhythmias (problems with the electrical system of the heart) and those without a heart rhythm problem. The only useful way of evaluating this is to wear a heart monitor for whatever period of time required to have the symptom (and typically press a button to mark the time) while wearing the monitor - neither your doctor nor you is able to tell from your symptoms, physical exam, and electrocardiogram (EKG) whether you have a rhythm problem or not. And, obviously (although people fail to get this all the time), if your monitor is normal and you didn't happen to have palpitations while wearing it, or you didn't make sure to mark the time when you had the palpitations, the test provides no useful information. Most palpitations in otherwise healthy people, especially with a normal EKG, are not dangerous, just annoying, but it's essentially impossible to tell for certain without knowing exactly what, if any, rhythm problem is causing the symptom. What causes the second kind, the palpitations where the heart rhythm is completely normal? I have no idea. We often wonder whether patients are really depressed or anxious, but it's impossible to prove. What I can tell you is that it's almost never dangerous; it's probably that the person has, for whatever reason, an abnormal awareness of their normal heart function, and that it's a benign finding.

Answer 4

If you suspect there are problems with your heart, do yourself a favor, and get it checked. Money aside, your health is much more important. It is possible for a 19 year old person to have a heart attack, or stroke. I have a friend who had his first heart attack at age 17. High cholesterol was the culprit. Same as me, but mine was at age 44. Stress can bring about those symptoms, and be just a major anxiety attack. Do not take any chances, have your doctor do a stress test on your heart and make sure the plumbing is not clogged up. I could not afford the treatment, but found that there are organizations that help out with such things. The hospital wrote off ALL charges and my medicines are free via the prescription companies having divisions that specialize in helping folks who cannot afford the medicine. I.E. Plavix, 30 tablets $500.00 I get FREE. That's just to mention one of the meds. My entire point is: get it checked out. It's too important to let go, unless you really want to die at such a young age.

Answer 5

You could have a type of Cardiac Arrhythmia, I was diagnosed 9 mths ago with one and the symptoms you are having are pretty much what I had. The one I have is called Supraventricular Tachycardia which make my heart beat too fast. ( When I have a turn I get very lightheaded/dizzy my blood pressure drops and my heart beats very fast), which according to the doctors was brought on by stress. This is a non life threatening condition and can be controlled by drugs, however you should definitely get it looked at in case it it something more serious. Is there some sort of community health clinic you could go to, as you are only young and have your whole life ahead of you. Good luck

Answer 6

Severe stress is DIRECTLY CAUSAL of Coronary Heart Disease.


Definitely lower it . It is extremely important.


Severe stress and elevated fasting blood sugar are coronary enemies, UNLIKEcholesterol.


Severe Stress and elevated fasting blood sugar are coronary enemy number 1


Look up Anthony Colpo on http://www.google.com


The anti cholesterol campaign is a complete farce.

http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm


http://www.lowcarbmuscle.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162

Answer 7

Here is some side effects of stress:
http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/002617.html