How can stress affect my heart?

Stress can affect your heart in a few simple and predictable ways. When you're stressed, your body switches into a fight-or-flight mode. That releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. In the short term, that's normal, but if it happens often, it can start to put strain on the cardiovascular system. First, stress can make your heart beat faster and your blood pressure rise. If those stress surges happen repeatedly, some people develop persistently high blood pressure over time. Second, stress can trigger palpitations, that fluttering or racing feeling, because adrenaline makes the heart's electrical system more irritable. In some people, it can even contribute to episodes of atrial fibrillation. Third, long-term stress can worsen the things that drive heart risk in the background. It disrupts sleep, increases inflammation, and makes it harder to keep blood sugar, weight, and habits on track. People often move less, snack more, drink more alcohol, or rely on caffeine. The basics that work are really simple. Protect your sleep, build movement into your life, and even a downshift for five minutes every day with simple breathing exercises can make all the difference.