| We all know what blood pressure means and | | | | emotional states affect behavior in several |
| what high or low blood pressure portends. | | | | ways.One of the explanations provided for the |
| Well to set the records straight, the heart | | | | link observed between mental and |
| pumps blood that is circulated throughout the | | | | cardiovascular health is that chronic |
| body by vessels called arteries and veins. | | | | emotional states, such as depression, fear or |
| The arteries take blood away from the heart | | | | anxiety, stimulate the body's fight-or-flight |
| to all parts of the body, while the veins | | | | mechanism. In response, the blood pressure |
| return this circulated blood back to the | | | | and blood cholesterol shoots up. When this |
| heart. In these vessels, the force of flow | | | | persists for a long time, chronic high blood |
| of the blood generates what is regarded as | | | | pressure could result. Funnily enough, a |
| blood pressure.However, there are two types | | | | Newsweek issue stated that the word 'angina' |
| of blood pressures: systolic and diastolic. | | | | (name of one of the symptoms of high blood |
| The pressure generated as the heart beats | | | | pressure) shares a common root with the word |
| while pumping is known as the systolic, while | | | | 'anger', that perhaps explains the |
| the diastolic pressure is the pressure | | | | correlation between emotions and high blood |
| generated by blood returning to the heart | | | | pressure more succinctly.A clinical study |
| through the veins. Thus, it is convenient to | | | | carried out in the United States showed that |
| say that systolic pressure is the blood | | | | emotions such as depression probably |
| pressure in the arteries while diastolic is | | | | stimulate the production of certain |
| that in veins.As with several similar | | | | inflammatory chemicals in the body which are |
| conditions, a thousand factors are indicted | | | | known to cause damage to blood vessels. They |
| in the onset and progression of high blood | | | | explained that in hostile and depressed |
| pressure. Inactivity and unhealthy diets | | | | people, the body tends to produce and build |
| have been the most highlighted risk factors. | | | | up large volumes of stress hormones, |
| Most blood pressure medications and advice | | | | stimulating the immune system to build up |
| are always targeted at improving lifestyles | | | | inflammation which in turn promotes heart |
| such as increased activity and healthy | | | | disease at every stage - from high blood |
| dieting. Recently, however, physicians have | | | | pressure to heart attack.When you hear all |
| discovered that beyond diet and exercise, | | | | the stories about diet and exercise being |
| your mood, emotions, anxieties, worries, | | | | good for your heart, remember that what you |
| fears and joy all contribute, largely, to the | | | | can do to help your heart function healthily |
| risk of high blood pressure. In short, a | | | | and effectively go beyond eating the right |
| link seems to have been established between | | | | food, smoking cessation or regular exercise. |
| mental and cardiovascular health.Mounting | | | | A good outlook on life is almost as |
| evidence points to the fact that chronic | | | | important. You won't have to go about with |
| emotional states such as stress, anxiety, | | | | that sore face; a simple smile could help |
| hostility, depression or childhood trauma and | | | | your heart. Doctors established a long time |
| loneliness play very important roles in the | | | | ago that happy and humorous people don't fall |
| cause of high blood pressure and other | | | | sick; they don't suffer high blood pressure |
| cardiovascular diseases. These factors are | | | | and other debilitating ailments, just because |
| appearing to be as potent as or even stronger | | | | they choose to be happy. You would agree |
| than the conventionally established | | | | that's not such a difficult decision to make. |
| cardiovascular risks, such as inactivity, | | | | Decide to live a tension-free life today; |
| smoking, diabetes etc. It is believed that | | | | your heart needs it. |