According to the study authors, anger or emotional upset was linked to an approximately 30% higher risk of having a stroke within one hour of experiencing those emotions.
Heart disease, stroke and stress
Stress can cause the heart to work harder, increase blood pressure, and increase sugar and fat levels in the blood. These things, in turn, can increase the risk of clots forming and travelling to the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.
When a stroke affects the emotion center of the brain, it can cause a condition called pseudobulbar affect. This involves involuntary, inappropriate, and uncontrollable outbursts of emotion such as laughter, crying, or anger, particularly when a situation does not call for such emotion.
In addition to risk factors such as high blood pressure, heart disease, anger or guilt can also be a cause of ischemic stroke.
If you've wondered specifically if stress can cause a stroke, too, the answer is unfortunately, yes. “There has been mounting evidence exploring stress as a risk factor for stroke — especially stress related to your job,” says neurologist Irene Katzan, MD.
Stroke is characterised by an acute onset of neurological symptoms, which are usually motor-related. However, personality changes such as impulsiveness and disinhibition can be explained by fronto-cortical damage.
Effect of Stress on Blood Vessels
But anxiety can also increase blood pressure, putting additional stress on the blood vessel walls, making them stiffer and decreasing the amount of blood that flows through the body. Combined these forces can lead to serious blood clots that can cause blockages in the heart and lungs.
A blood clot in the brain may cause weakness in your face, arms, or legs, speech and vision difficulties, headache, and dizziness. Many of these symptoms are the symptoms associated with other conditions, such as heart attacks and stroke. If you suspect you have a blood clot, see a doctor immediately.
Silent strokes are far more common than most would assume. Experts say silent strokes affect 8 -11 million Americans annually. And one in four people over the age of 80 has suffered at least one silent stroke in their lives.
If you're prone to lashing out, beware. One study found there was a three times higher risk of having a stroke from a blood clot to the brain or bleeding within the brain during the two hours after an angry outburst.
When an angry feeling coincides with aggressive or hostile behavior, it also activates the amygdala, an almond–shaped part of the brain associated with emotions, particularly fear, anxiety, and anger.
Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is an impulse-control disorder characterized by sudden episodes of unwarranted anger. The disorder is typified by hostility, impulsivity, and recurrent aggressive outbursts. People with IED essentially “explode” into a rage despite a lack of apparent provocation or reason.
High blood pressure is the number one modifiable risk factor for stroke, often referred to as the silent killer!
How Does a Stroke Impact Life Expectancy? Despite the likelihood of making a full recovery, life expectancy after stroke incidents can decrease. Unfortunately, researchers have observed a wide range of life expectancy changes in stroke patients, but the average reduction in lifespan is nine and a half years.
Having a blood clot can be a life-altering event. Research shows that in addition to physical symptoms (such as pain or swelling), patients may experience a range of mental health issues after a clot, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Cerebral microemboli can occur without patients showing any symptoms or can occur during procedures used to treat intracranial stenosis. When symptoms are present, they are often in the form of a TIA, or microstroke, which has symptoms similar to an ischemic stroke, but usually lasts between 2 and 30 minutes.
throbbing or cramping pain, swelling, redness and warmth in a leg or arm. sudden breathlessness, sharp chest pain (may be worse when you breathe in) and a cough or coughing up blood.
According to recent studies, Emotional Trauma and PTSD do cause both brain and physical damage. Neuropathologists have seen overlapping effects of physical and emotional trauma upon the brain.
The authors of the case report, as well as another study, suggested that sharp increases in blood pressure due to acute mental stress can cause intracranial vessels to rupture [9,10].
Delayed responses to trauma can include persistent fatigue, sleep disorders, nightmares, fear of recurrence, anxiety focused on flashbacks, depression, and avoidance of emotions, sensations, or activities that are associated with the trauma, even remotely.
High blood pressure.
It's the biggest cause of strokes.
Pre-strokes or mini strokes are the common terms used to describe a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Unlike a full blown stroke, a TIA only lasts a few minutes and does not cause permanent damage. Nevertheless it is a warning sign that a possible stroke may be coming in the future.
One stressed out day won't necessarily affect your stroke risk, but unmanaged chronic stress may. In fact, chronic stress and anxiety, in addition to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes, are key factors that affect stroke risk.