Having an unhealthy amount of stress is linked to high blood pressure, a lack of energy, smoking, and binge eating, all of which are detrimental to your heart health and may require you to see a heart doctor. Learning to manage your stress effectively enables you to make healthier choices and may lower your risk of heart disease. Below are a few simple ways to reduce your stress every day.

How to Lower Stress to Improve Your Heart Health

1. Practice Meditation & Yoga

Meditation involves taking a few minutes to focus on the present moment and relax the mind and body. To meditate, you will use deep breathing in a comfortable position to enter an altered state that allows for relaxation and stress release. Yoga is similar, in that it uses deep breathing to promote relaxation, but it incorporates movements to enhance flexibility and physical relaxation. You can find guided meditation and yoga videos online, or you can sign up for classes in your community.

2. Get More Exercise

You may know that exercise alone can improve heart health, but did you know that it also helps with stress relief and improved mental health? When you exercise, chemicals like dopamine and endorphins spike in your body, leading to an elevated mood and enhanced relaxation. Simple activities like taking a walk, riding a bicycle, or working out for a bit in your home can help you manage stress, preventing unexpected trips to a heart doctor.

3. Find a Hobby

A hobby will give you a break from the day-to-day stress and allow you to focus on something you enjoy. Potential hobbies include collecting insects or coffee mugs, starting a vegetable garden, or learning a new artform, like music or painting. Choose anything you’re interested in, and do it whenever and for however long you’re able to, so long as it’s at least once a week.

4. Eat & Drink Healthier Options

This lowers your risk for high blood pressure and heart disease, and it can reduce your stress levels. A healthy diet keeps you energized and less worried about your health. Drinking more water can reduce fatigue and irritability, which contribute to being stressed out. Avoiding caffeine and other stimulants will also reduce stress and irritability.

Are you stressing about your heart health? The experienced heart doctors at DiVagno Interventional Cardiology, MD, PA in Bergen County, NJ, will be able to help. As specialists in heart conditions and cardiac and peripheral interventions, their services include assistance with cardiovascular diagnostics, cardiac EKGs and MRIs, stress tests, and artery interventions. For over 20 years, these board-certified physicians have provided customized care at their practice, and they assist patients at Englewood Hospital Medical Center®, Hackensack University Medical Center®, and Holy Name Medical Center®. View their services online, and call (201) 845-3535 to schedule an appointment with a heart doctor.