A man sits in front of a laptop looking stressed while a hand holds a cell phone out to him

Stress and Your Heart

Everyone experiences stress. Knowing that you have things to do during the day means you have to be out of bed to complete those tasks. ReactDx, the ambulatory cardiac monitor company, knows stress is inevitable, but how you deal with that stress is unique to you. By learning to manage stress, you can keep your heart healthier.

Your Body’s Response to Stress
Stress comes in two varieties: good stress and bad stress. Good stress is looking forward to a vacation, anticipating the birth of your first grandchild, or hosting a party. Bad stress is working long hours, being physically ill, or experiencing family troubles. When your body is under stress, adrenaline courses through your system to help you react with either aggression or by ignoring the situation (“fight or flight”). When stress happens over extended periods of time, the onslaught of adrenaline creates cortisol, which signals your body to store fat for the future. Cortisol and other stress hormones tip the scale on health and can lead to many digestive, mental, and cardiovascular problems. Stress-related health problems include anxiety, weight gain, insomnia, mental focus problems, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

Responding to Stress
Now that you have a better idea of how stress can affect you, ReactDx has a few tips on how you can better manage your stress.

  • Exercise: When you walk, ride a bike, swim, or play a sport with your family, your body releases endorphins, which are the “feel good” hormones that relax you and stabilize your mood.
  • Turn off and tune out: We are constantly inundated with bad news from various sources. Read a book rather than watching the news, and stay away from controversial social media.
  • Have a normal bedtime routine: Studies have found going to bed at approximately the same time every night is beneficial to your overall health. A good amount of sleep — anywhere from seven to nine hours a night — will fully rest your body and brain and keep you more energized throughout the day.
  • Eat a balanced diet: Food that is good for you keeps you healthy and helps you lose weight. When you lose weight, you are more likely to exercise, and you become more optimistic. A simple change, such as substituting olive oil for butter, can significantly help your heart.
  • Take a deep breath: Stress is alleviated when you step back, take a breath, give yourself a pep talk, and think positively.   

It’s important that you make sure your stress level is balanced. Contact ReactDx online or by calling 800-23-HEART to ask if an ambulatory cardiac monitor would help you determine whether your heart is affected by your current level of stress. Read our blog to learn more about heart health.

Jodi is a seasoned Human Resources professional who thrives on change and transformation. She fell in love with Human Resources when she attended Penn State University for graduate school in Public Administration with a curriculum that emphasized Human Resources. After earning her Master’s degree she began her career in the manufacturing industry in Talent Acquisition and was eventually assigned the overall HR Management responsibility of three divisions which included collective bargaining. Ultimately, she made her way to transitioning a new division of a Fortune 100 company under the corporate model as well as developing and executing Human Resources policies and procedures across a broad range of functional disciplines. At the next juncture of her career, she was tapped on the shoulder by former Executives that she previously worked with to join in on an exciting start-up. Today, Jodi is the Vice President of Talent Relations and Development for Medicomp Inc dba ReactDx and is responsible for managing the strategic Human Resources function which includes mergers and acquisitions for this rapidly expanding company.

Jodi and her husband enjoy landscaping, finding new restaurants and traveling whenever life gives them the opportunity.

    *This form is intended for sales inquiries/information only. Do not include any patient health information (PHI) with your submission.

    On: all lights. Off: no light. Monitoring - Good: green light. Symptom press: green light, sound. Check Pendant: blue light. Check Battery: red light, sound.
    Do: wear always, fully insert in cradle, turn off to charge, dry, key near handset, return promptly. Don't: discard pendant, submerge, move patch