RALEIGH, N.C. — During American Heart Month, experts are talking about the overall effects your mental health can have on your heart.
Experts say high levels of stress can cause physiological impacts on your body, like high blood pressure and heart disease.
Mental health expert Shinqua Harris advises taking steps to reduce your stress and protect your heart. She says stress, anxiety, depression and PTSD can have a negative impact on your mental health and lead to emotional exhaustion and heightened frustration.
“There’s also a cognitive impact, our ability to focus and make decisions, and also a negative thought pattern that leaves us stuck. And there’s also behavior changes, social withdraws and changes to our sleep pattern,” said Harris.
Harris says the common factors that lead to stress include high demand on jobs, job insecurity, life transitions, financial pressures, increases in the cost of living and serious health concerns.
Harris recommends following these four steps to reduce your stress:
- Intentional movement
- Adequate sleep
- Healthy diet
- Time management
Harris also says people should consider four techniques that can help reduce stress such as stretching, meditation, journaling and deep breathing.