Often angry and anxious, beware of stroke 'visiting'

People who are often angry, anxious or under prolonged stress have a higher risk of stroke than people with a stable mental state.

Why can negative emotions and disorders cause stroke?

Doctor Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, Department of Neurology, Thu Duc General Hospital (HCMC), said that when encountering stress and negative emotions, the body will activate a series of physiological reactions starting from the brain and affecting the whole body, including:

When angry, the body secretes substances that cause blood pressure to suddenly increase, heart rate to increase, heart rhythm to become irregular, and vasoconstriction to occur.

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Over-activation of the sympathetic nervous system : When angry or anxious, the body secretes substances that cause sudden increase in blood pressure, rapid heart rate, arrhythmia and strong vasoconstriction.

Increased systemic inflammation : Chronic stress causes the immune system to become “overactive in the wrong places,” producing more inflammatory cytokines, which contribute to atherosclerosis and blood clot formation.

Easy to form blood clots : Prolonged stress increases the ability of blood to clot, platelets stick together more. When blood vessels are narrowed due to atherosclerosis, even a tiny blood clot is enough to "block the way to the brain".

Metabolic disorders : Long-term high cortisol levels lead to increased blood sugar, blood fat, overweight, especially belly fat.

Easily lead to unhealthy behaviors : Poor sleep, alcohol/caffeine abuse, irregular eating, lack of exercise, these factors all increase the risk of stroke.

Besides, according to Dr. Ngo Thi Kim Oanh, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City - Campus 3, this also has deep roots in the theory of yin and yang and internal organs of traditional medicine.

Specifically, emotions are closely related to internal organs: Anger harms the liver, worry harms the spleen, sadness harms the lungs, fear harms the kidneys, and excessive joy harms the heart. People who are often angry easily have “liver qi stagnation”, which over time causes “liver fire rising to the liver”, causing blood and qi to rush to the head, causing “internal wind movement” - equivalent to a stroke in modern medicine.

Being overweight, obese, and physically inactive greatly increases the risk of stroke recurrence.

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Risk of stroke recurrence due to depression and unhealthy lifestyle

In terms of modern medicine, according to Dr. Thu Trang, the following two factors greatly affect the risk of stroke recurrence:

Lifestyle : Overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol and substance abuse.

Chronic diseases : High blood pressure, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease (heart failure, heart defects, heart infections or irregular heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation), sleep apnea syndrome.

In terms of traditional medicine, Dr. Kim Oanh said: “After an illness, the blood and energy are weakened, and evils such as wind, phlegm, and blood stasis have not been completely eliminated. If the weather changes, the diet is irregular, or emotions are depressed, the disease can easily recur. Post-stroke patients often have a weak spleen, a strong liver, and unbalanced blood and energy, so they need long-term care through diet, exercise, and nurturing the mind.”

To prevent this condition, patients need to control risk factors well, maintain blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg, stabilize blood sugar and lipids, have regular check-ups combined with a healthy lifestyle. At the same time, keeping a calm spirit, avoiding anger or anxiety is also an effective way to nourish the mind and prevent stroke recurrence.

“Personality and emotions may not change overnight, but learning to control your mood, maintain a peaceful mind and practice a healthy lifestyle will significantly reduce the risk of stroke and recurrence. In long-term treatment, the combination of modern medicine and traditional medicine not only helps stabilize the body but also helps patients recover mentally and maintain a better quality of life,” added Dr. Kim Oanh.

Signs that emotions are “beyond the safe threshold”

Dr. Ngo Thi Kim Oanh said that when a patient experiences a sudden increase in blood pressure, hot face, rapid heartbeat, headache, tinnitus, blurred vision, dizziness or a feeling of transient weakness in one side of the body... these are signs that the emotional state has exceeded the safe threshold and requires special attention.

Signs of sleep disorders, prolonged insomnia, anxiety, and restlessness are also early warning signs of neuro-cardiovascular disorders.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thuong-xuyen-gian-du-va-lo-lang-coi-chung-dot-quy-ghe-tham-185251029003236359.htm