by Twana Coleman

What you should know about stress, heart attacks and chest pain and how they all can be prevented due to not having a cardiology workup.

Reportedly, an estimated 8.3 million American adults – about 3.4 percent of the U.S. population, suffer from serious psychological distress.

Believe it or not, Millennials (ages 18-33) and Gen Xers (ages 34-47) report the highest average stress levels. Although, Baby boomers (48-66) trail with levels that are higher than considered healthy.

Now, to be clear, stress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response.

The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental and emotional responses. Stress, however, is a normal part of life and it can be experienced from your environment, your body and your thoughts.

Most importantly, if you or your doctor believes your stress level is way too high, a cardiac stress test may be recommended.

A cardiac stress test is a cardiological test that measures the heart’s ability to respond to external stress by elevating the heart rate by increasingly strenuous exercise.

Many have heard the statement, “my nerves are bad”. It gives the illustration that one’s nerves are damaged or not properly working, when in actuality, the person is really speaking of their emotional well-being or stress level.

Very importantly, you should know that stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts, your feelings and your behavior.

Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can help you manage them.

Stress that’s left undetected can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

Studies also link stress to changes in the way blood clots, which increases the risk of heart attack.

Stressful experiences come in many forms, such as a demanding job, a chronic disease, or an argument with a loved one.

But all types of stressors – even stress from positive experiences, such as planning a party, can result in the same physical and emotional burden on health, especially when you’re an older adult.

One vital step to identifying and reducing stress is learning what your triggers are. If you know what pushes your buttons, simply avoid it. However, there are some stresses that must be accepted, but your reaction to them must be changed.

Be sure to consult with your doctor for a full analysis and if needed, a cardiology work-up should be assessed.