Stress and heart failure

The effects of stress on people's health and well-being are matters of debate among doctors, scientists and the public. Some of those we talked to thought that stress had played an important part in the build-up to their heart problems. Others referred to stress as one of the factors that they thought may have caused heart failure, but were uncertain whether it was as important as smoking or having the 'wrong' genes. One man was of the opinion that stress was a 'modern word' used by those who wouldn't slow down.

Says that he lives a stress-free life and that stress is a modern word.

Many people were sure that stress had played a central role in the development of their heart problems and that over time it had weakened their hearts. Some talked about feeling 'stressed' at work, about having too much responsibility and too much to do. Some said they had worked too hard physically for many years or that they had worked in a poor environment where there was dust and artificial light. Working anti-social hours and shift work were also thought to be stressful and therefore detrimental to health and well-being. Although smoking is known to be an important cause of heart disease, a man who had experienced business and financial difficulties felt that stress had been as much to blame for his heart problems as smoking.

Says his heart attack was caused more by stress than smoking.

The stress caused by bereavement, especially if someone in the family had died suddenly, was thought to cause severe stress, and one man said that his heart attack had been triggered by both the shock of bereavement as well as financial troubles.

Describes how his heart attack was caused by emotional stress not high cholesterol.

People defined stress in different ways; for instance one man said he relished the stress of his challenging job but that some of the hassle of everyday life such as running out of petrol or forgetting to collect his wife's dry cleaning could be stressful enough to bring on palpitations.

He enjoys the stress of his work but finds everyday hassle stressful.

People also talked about feeling extremely anxious about themselves and their illness, (see 'Bad days, anxiety and depression'). One man felt so anxious about being ill at night that he was reluctant to be alone. Someone else said that worrying about things beyond her control could 'eat away' at her.

He can feel insecure and anxious at night unless his girlfriend is with him.

• What are the best ways to reduce anxiety and stress for people with heart failure?

Last reviewed: February 2010.

Last updated: March 2010.