Roles of Stress, Immunity, and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Diseases

Introduction

The heart plays a pivotal role in circulating blood throughout the body. It is a natural pump that helps push the blood to the extremities. The functions of the heart can be influenced by stress, immunity, and inflammation. Each plays a different role in affecting the health of the heart. Constant stress may affect immunity, and the body is prone to most infections and inflammation. Hence it is important to understand the ill effects of stress, immunity, and inflammation to prevent the complications of cardiovascular diseases.

What Is a Cardiovascular Disease?

The diseases and disorders that affect the heart and the blood vessels supplying the heart are called cardiovascular diseases. Heart ailments are common these days, irrespective of the age of an individual. Many young individuals die due to heart attacks and strokes due to lifestyle changes in modern days. Some of these diseases may have a defined cause, while others are of idiopathic reasons.

However, it is important to understand the risks associated with cardiovascular disease as the heart plays an important role in pumping and circulating blood to different body parts. Any damage to the heart can be dreadful and result in serious complications.

What Are the Most Common Cardiovascular Diseases?

There are various causes of heart disease, and some of the most common heart conditions are mentioned below.

1. Coronary Heart Disease - It affects the blood vessels that supply the heart muscles.

2. Congenital Heart Disease - A disease characterized by the improper formation of the heart or its valves at birth is called congenital heart disease. Some of the common congenital heart diseases are

• Atrial septal defects.

• Coarctation of the aorta.

• Atrioventricular septal defect.

• Interrupted aortic arch.

3. Rheumatic Heart Disease - The heart muscles and valves are damaged due to rheumatic fever, a bacterial infection that affects the heart.

• Deep Vein Thrombosis - This occurs when blood clots in the blood vessels of the leg may dislodge and move towards the heart, occluding the blood vessels and blocking the blood supply to the heart.

• Heart Failure - Elderly individuals who suffer from comorbidities are most prone to heart failure due to the weakening of the heart muscles and poor blood circulation.

• Arrhythmia - It refers to the irregular cardiac rhythm that affects the normal functioning of the heart.

What Is Stress?

Pressure may manifest as stress when an individual cannot cope with various situations and challenges. Stress may affect the thoughts and behavior of an individual. It may lead to symptoms like

• Difficulty sleeping.

• Frequently sweating.

• Loss of appetite.

• Poor concentration.

What Is the Role of Stress in Cardiovascular Diseases?

Constant stress may affect the cardiovascular system. It increases blood pressure and may cause strokes or other cardiac illnesses. During stress, individuals may have poor health behaviors like

• Smoking.

• Lack of physical activity.

• Unhealthy diet.

• Skipping medications.

• Overeating.

The lack of physical activity and overeating increases the risk of low-density cholesterol, which clogs the blood vessels to the heart. They are called plaques, which are thick fatty substances that adhere to the blood vessels of the heart. Stress causes an adrenaline rush and increases the heart rate. It also causes palpitations that affect the heart.

What Is Inflammation?

Inflammation is the local response of living tissues to both internal and external stimuli. Collective cells performing a similar function are called tissues. Inflammation activates the local pain fibers and attracts the white blood cells to the injury site. It then activates the process of phagocytosis. In phagocytosis, the unwanted cells are ingested by the phagocytes, which helps eliminate the foreign particles from the body.

What Is the Role of Inflammation in Cardiovascular Diseases?

Inflammation triggers the initial phase of the atherosclerotic process and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. In atherosclerosis, the fats and cholesterol in the blood form a plaque. As the plaque accumulation continues, it may narrow the arteries. This results in poor blood supply to the heart. As a result, the heart pumps hard and fast to overcompensate for the deficit in the blood supply. This may ultimately damage the heart and initiate various cardiovascular diseases.

What Is Immunity?

Immunity is the capacity of the body to fight against various infections. Immunity can be classified as: natural or acquired. Natural immunity refers to the defense cells produced by the body to fight against infections and inflammations. Acquired immunity refers to the injection of vaccines as a precaution to prevent any infection from attacking the body. It is a precautionary measure to protect the body from serious complications. Poor immunity affects overall health, especially the heart.

What Is the Role of Immunity in Cardiovascular Diseases?

When foreign particles invade the body, the immune system fights these particles from invading various organs in the body. The invasion of these foreign particles could slow down immunity and compromise health. The immune system triggers the inflammatory molecules, which may promote blood vessel injury. It also affects plaque instability which may pass through the bloodstream and clog the small arteries resulting in heart attacks and stroke.

How to Manage Stress, Immunity, and Inflammation Effects in Cardiovascular Diseases?

The management involves:

• Exercising regularly helps to maintain a healthy heart.

• Do not skip medications during stress without consulting the doctor or family physician.

• Look for therapy or consult a psychologist to help with stress.

• Follow a diet chart and ensure that the body receives complete nutrients.

• Practice meditation and relaxation as it helps to calm the body and mind.

• Find a hobby that is distracting and helps avoid stress.

• Various stress management classes help to understand the various dimensions of stress and treat them appropriately.

• Regular health check-ups are a must in individuals with cardiovascular disease to prevent complications.

Conclusion

Cardiovascular diseases are influenced by stress, immunity, and inflammation. Although each of these factors may have diverse effects on the heart, some effects may permanently damage the heart as they are irreversible. It is important to monitor the heart and avoid unnecessary stress to prevent serious damage. Besides, a healthy diet and regular exercise can boost the immune system to fight various infections and improve the overall health of the heart to lead a healthy lifestyle.