Can Chronic Stress Cause Brain Stroke?

A stroke has been defined medically as a situation when there is no flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain leading to loss in function and vitality. If there is no oxygen for as low as even 6 minutes, there is risk for permanent brain damage. The brain is a major energy hog and consumes almost 20% of the total oxygen needed, even while resting. There are multiple risk factors associated with getting a stroke. Let us learn more about them all in detail, while focusing on how stress can exacerbate the situation.

Can Chronic Stress Lead to a Brain Stroke?

Stress by itself is not a problem, but when combined with lifestyle related issues like diabetes or hypertension, you have a higher than usual probability of having to deal with stroke. Chronic high blood pressure has been linked to too much stress. This is probably because our jobs are much more sedentary than before, and we do not get as many opportunities to get out and move around. Funnily enough, recent studies have shown that depression, more perceived stress or even being married can lead to more stress than usual, and possibly be responsible for a stroke in the future. So, is being single a better bet? All jokes aside, cardiovascular health is also acutely affected due to poor choices like smoking, drinking or eating the wrong kinds of food due to increased inflammation.

Top Foods to Reduce Stress and Prevent Brain Stroke

These are our favourite suggestions:

• Eat your greens religiously
• Soluble fibre rich foods
• Plenty of water
• Nuts and oily fish
• Spices
• Whole grains
• Eating potassium rich foods and reducing sodium intake

Basically, try to incorporate foodstuffs that your grandma would approve of, and you are sorted!

Stress Management Tips to Lower Brain Stroke Risk

Stress has become an inevitable part of our lives. So, that means we need to find ways to manage it too. These are our top tips:

• Exercise for at least 150 minutes every week. Go for long brisk walks, get some strength training in. Do some yoga and meditate everyday. Practise deep breathing or pranayama everyday.
• Meet up with friends and family. Catch up with them.
• Try not to get bogged down with life.
• Snuggle in for some quality sleep.
• Try not to be pessimistic or angry at life. That will change your outlook for the worse.
• Love reading books or watching cheesy k-dramas? No issue. Do what makes you happy.

Conclusion

Effective stress management is a great way to ensure that we feel good about life and ourselves. Being mindful of your routine, your triggers and ways to relax matter. Chronic stress is harmful in many ways and can affect cognition, lower immunity, cause insomnia or even gut-related issues. There is a psychological component to every physical symptom you may deal with. The important thing is to not indulge in any unhealthy behaviours or use coping mechanisms.