Stress May Be Your Heart's Worst Enemy

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Yahoo!, attributed to the New York Times: "Stress May Be Your Heart's Worst Enemy"

I have a congenital heart defect and I've suffered two strokes. The first was likely from stress. The second was from pain-related stress. I certainly agree that we're subject to ongoing stress throughout our lives and that likely puts people in danger even if they're born with a healthy heart.

So I'm going to have a heart attack soon then.

My blood pumps backward any time I sneeze, making it possible for a stroke. Something weird like that. I didn't quite understand in my post-stroke confusion. It wasn't discovered until then and they decided not to operate. I'm supposed to "wait and see" what happens. lol - very reassuring. Now I kind of panic when I have a cold, like right now I seem to have Omicron and my oxygen levels are low at 91 - 94%.


Here it is:

"Persistence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) is present in up to 25% of general population. Under normal circumstances, this is of little relevance as the left atrial pressure is higher than that of the right and the PFO is functionally closed most of the time. However, during coughing, sneezing, diving, and other conditions of increased endothoracic pressure, the PFO can open allowing potential for right-to-left shunt. This opens the cerebral circulation to the systemic venous circulation and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of stroke."

^ Yeah stress is a big hazard. People need relief from strain, or they become shell shocked. It's the subtle effect it has over time which is the most insidious.

Speaking of backward
My heartbeat comes up inverse on a cardiogram.
Instead of the peaks going up, they go down.
And that's about as technical as I can get about it.
I've had ultrasound on my heart and worn a monitor around.
The abnormality doesn't affect me overmuch.
And gives the medical staff something to freak out about.

I don't know what that could indicate. Maybe it means you have alien blood, are of different race ,superior to mere humans. Or it could just be a glitch on the cardiogram.

makes sense

It's my electric personality, throwing off the equipment.

Autistic related stress factors hadn't ever been my biggest of worries.

Except possibly for hormonal related stress from the menstrual cycle -- from physiological (not psychological) anxiety to sleep disorders to temporary hypersensitivities to varying gut issues despite what I'm eating (this includes nothing).


As for my heart... It's mostly normal. Sometimes slower heartbeat as I work out.
And tend to have below average blood pressure. May or may not be why I'm anemic.

The biggest issues I have with my heart might be very much to do with my chronic breathing issues.
It's a stupid curse I got from my mother's side. I'd rather get hypertension or obssesity than this alleged "allergy".

It's even the main source of my stress. The physiological reactions most especially.
Definitely a source of issues from sleep issues to brain fog.


However, my stress always reaches my head. And it could hurt.

Not because of overwhelm from the outside, but because of some overwork from the inside.

It's like I'm trying to hit a metal wall with my fists when I'm trying to think.
It's either a form of brain fog or a form of a stupid habit created from coping with brain fog because my head is being tricked into thinking it's still the case.
If only there's a way to tell the difference.

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Yes - that's what I was told too. Mine was only detected on the Echocardiogram after my first stroke. I think it was called a Bubble Echo? When I saw the Cardiologist they said they'd just leave it. I certainly didn't want heart surgery but considering I've had a second stroke I don't know what I'm waiting for next. They also said that PFO with migraine auras / visual migraines can lead to strokes. I've had auras all my life. Oh well - I'm alive and don't really want the surgery anyway.

I'm glad your surgery went well and they were able to fix both!

Migraine auras, I'll; have to look out for that. I've had white flashes in corner of eyes, momentary high blood pressure to optic nerve most likely, this is after lifting heavy stuff, or being really tired, or some over straining activity, though. I once had blurred vision once momentarily. Again high physical strain. Hoping you maintain a strong healthy " " , must be scary, to live with that, it's like a psychological sword of Damocles.