Stress is your physical and mental response to increasing demands in life. It can be chronic or acute, depending on the situation. Stress can have both positive and negative effects on the body. It can be motivating and cause increased energy, or it can be harmful and wear you down. Stress can have many physical effects you are unaware of -- including depletion of essential vitamins and minerals in your heart.
Stress
Chronic stress can have a negative effect on your heart. Work stress along with personal stress and physical stress can lead to heart disease and heart arrhythmias. Stress can increase blood pressure and the workload on the heart which causes damage to the arteries. It can also increase heart rhythm and cause skipped beats. All these factors increase the risk of heart disease and the risk of having heart attacks.
Magnesium
Magnesium is essential for nerve function, immune system health and the regulation of blood sugar levels. It is an essential nutrient for the heart; it aids in the contraction and the relaxation of the heart and also plays a role in controlling the heart rhythm. The majority of magnesium is stored in the cells inside the tissues of the body. When chronic stress occurs, it causes the magnesium to leave the cells and get excreted in the urine. This causes a magnesium insufficiency, leading to a risk for a dangerous deficiency.
Potassium
Potassium is a mineral of the body that is important for the function of the heart. It works with sodium in the contraction and relaxation of the heart. When the body is under stress, it releases aldosterone, a potassium-regulating hormone. This alters the sodium-potassium ratio in the body. More sodium is excreted to the urine, thus more potassium is also lost in the urine. Under stressful conditions, this process can continue leading to a deficiency of potassium.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. It plays a role in immune system function and is also a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants protect the heart by fighting free radicals that can lead to heart disease. Under stress, specifically anxiety, vitamin C levels are decreased and secreted into the urine. Emotional stress depletes vitamin C at a faster rate than physical stress.
References
- Cleveland Clinic: Stress Management and Your Heart
- "Better Nutrition"; Stress Can Cause Nutrient Deficiencies; Deborah Seymour Taylor
- "The Journal of the American Medical Association"; Marital Stress Worsens Prognosis in Women With Coronary Heart Disease; K. Orth-Gomer, et al.; December 2000
- Office of Dietary Supplements National Institutes of Health: Magnesium
- "Journal of Clinical Investigations"; Pathophysiology of Intense Physical Conditioning in a Hot Climate. Mechanisms of Potassium Depletion; J.P. Knochel, et al.; February 1972
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