1. The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a
world-renowned nutrition research center.
Mission:
To promote healthier lives through research and edu-
cation in nutrition and preventive medicine.
Stress
The Pennington Center has several research areas,
including:
Clinical Obesity Research
&
Experimental Obesity Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Functional Foods
Health and Performance Enhancement 6400 Perkins Road
Your Heart
Nutrition and Chronic Diseases Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Nutrition and the Brain 225-763-2500
Dementia, Alzheimer’s and healthy aging
Diet, exercise, weight loss and weight loss mainte- Visit Our Website at:
nance
www.pbrc.edu
The research fostered in these areas can have a pro-
found impact on healthy living and on the prevention of
common chronic diseases, such as heart disease, can-
cer, diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis. Pennington Nutrition Series No 68, 2010
Authors
The Division of Education provides education and infor-
mation to the scientific community and the public
about research findings, training programs and re- Heli J. Roy, PhD, RD
search areas, and coordinates educational events for Beth Kalicki
the public on various health issues.
Division of Education
Pennington Biomedical
We invite people of all ages and backgrounds to partic- Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Research Center
ipate in the exciting research studies being conducted
1/10
at the Pennington Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If Promoting Healthier Lives
Through Research and
you would like to take part, visit the clinical trials web Education in Nutrition and
Preventive Medicine
page at www.pbrc.edu or call (225) 763-3000.
Tel: 225-763-2500

2. Women are more likely than men to develop Having a positive attitude and good self esteem
heart problems that are due to emotional stress. are defenses against stress. A positive
attitude helps you maintain control when changes
Effects of stress on the heart include:
are inevitable in your life.
Increased Heart Rate
Stress affects overall health. People tend to eat
Increased Blood Pressure poorly, sleep badly, exercise less, smoke or drink
Release of catecholamines, such as too much.
Stress is the body’s response to physical,
adrenaline, from the adrenal glands The way the body reacts to stress plays a key role
chemical, emotional, or environmental factors.
Increased oxygen demand on the body, which in the development of atherosclerotic heart
Everyone experiences stress, just in different
temporarily increases the metabolic rate disease.
amounts, and their body may react differently.
Lower threshold for cardiac arrhythmias such Jobs that have a high level of psychological
The body reacts to stressful situations by releas-
as Ventricular Tachycardia, Ventricular demand, but with little autonomy are associated
ing the hormone adrenaline. This causes an
Fibrillation, and Atrial Fibrillation, which with an increase in heart disease.
increase in respiratory rate and heart rate, which
results in increased blood pressure. results from electrical instability of the heart Regular aerobic exercise can decrease the level
muscle. of stress related hormones circulating in the
Having a lot of stress can increase the risk of
Spasms of the heart’s blood vessels, which bloodstream.
heart disease.
can lead to ischemia Caring for a pet can buffer some of the stress
There are two types of stress; physical stress and
Ways to prevent or manage stress in your life: associated with everyday life.
emotional stress. Physical stress includes
exercise or other forms of physical exertion; this Avoid situations that you know are stressful. Treatments for stress include:
can be good for the heart, as long as the heart
Exercise at least 30 minutes daily. Deep muscle relaxation
functions normally. Emotional stress comes from
personal relationships, economic hardships, loss Eat a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, Biofeedback training : the patient is told how
of a loved one, divorce, and many other things. and whole grains. their body is responding to a particular event,
and then they are told how to control their
Lack of physical stress, or a sedentary lifestyle, is Don’t smoke.
stress related response.
a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. Use alcohol only in moderation.
Anxiety management : provides patient with
Chronic emotional stress is associated with heart Manage stress by having quiet time or by stress management skills that are easily
disease and early death. participating in meditation, prayer, applied to tension causing sensations.
Due to emotional stress, people without spouses reading, yoga or other relaxation techniques.
Anger management and stress inoculation
tend to die younger than married people. This is Reach out to family and friends to reduce therapy : helps the patient modify anger and
because a spouse provides a degree of emotional life’s conflicts and express your feelings. hostility by teaching them effective coping
support and stability. skills.
Beta blockers may be prescribed to lower
Both emotional and physical stress can cause an your heart rate and control abnormal heart
increase in heart rate, and elevated blood rhythm.
pressure and the release of stress
If you are under a great deal of stress, you are
hormones. These make the heart work harder.
more likely to have high blood pressure, over eat,
be more sedentary, and be more likely to smoke.