The Secret Damage You Might Be Doing to Your Heart Right Now
Your frayed nerves could be leading to clogged arteries—and worse.
By Dr. Mehmet Oz
Photo: Terroa/istock
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An Underestimated Risk
A 2012 meta-analysis from the American Journal of Cardiology that followed subjects for an average of 13.8 years found that those who were chronically stressed had a 27 percent greater risk of coronary heart disease. Putting this in context, the study authors estimate that high perceived stress could be as risky for your heart as a 50 mg/dL increase in LDL (bad) cholesterol or smoking five more cigarettes per day. It doesn't help that stress may make many people crave fatty comfort foods or cigarettes, compounding risk factors.
From the
February 2017 issue of
O, The Oprah Magazine
