How to manage the impact of stress on your heart health

Stress is a natural part of life, but when it becomes chronic or overwhelming, it can take a serious toll on our health - particularly our heart.

- By Camilla Foster

We all get anxious and tense from time to time - but new data suggests stress is a key factor preventing people from protecting their heart health. According to an Ipsos B&A survey of 1,018 participants for the Her Heart Matters campaign, the cost of health checks (25%), stress and lack of time (26%), low motivation (23%), expensive gym memberships (21%), and the high price of healthy foods (18%) all play roles in why many women don't take steps to protect their heart health.

But what impact can stress directly have on our heart health over time - and is there any way we can manage this? We got in touch with Dr Malcolm Finlay, consultant cardiologist at Nuffield Health, St Bartholomew's Hospital, to find out...

How can stress levels affect our heart health?