Stress
Stress is related to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a study published in The Lancet. Pros believe that when the area of the brain which is linked to stress is activated, that region also triggers inflammation in the arteries.
Experts have long suspected that stress can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease, says Dr. Bauman. “We don’t have a direct link yet, but we do know that chronic stress increases the release of epinephrine, or adrenaline, in your system, and we know that can lead to hypertension,” she says.
