This "time out" is very important to protect your health and your heart. This is because stress, especially long-term stress, and the associated mental strain can favour cardiovascular diseases.
Short-term stress and the physical reaction to it help us to cope with certain situations and demands. However, if phases of recovery and relaxation fail to materialise, permanent stress develops, which can make us ill.
If stress persists, blood pressure is permanently too high. In addition to sleep disorders, this can weaken the immune system and, in the worst case, lead to a heart attack, cardiac arrhythmia or even heart failure. The constant release of insulin increases the risk of developing diabetes.
In addition, people are prone to other unhealthy behaviours such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, unhealthy eating habits or lack of exercise when exposed to severe and prolonged stressful situations.
Whether situations or tasks are perceived as stressful varies from person to person. The way we deal with them is also different.
What causes you stress and how do you regain your composure? What does time out mean to you?
Think about when you feel good and create your own balance!
Further information on the subject of stress and heart health can be found on the homepage of the German Heart Foundation (Deutsche Herzstiftung e.V.): Avoid stress | Heart Foundation