Does Stress Affect the Circulatory System ?

I’m sure that most of you know what the circulatory system is. For those of you who don’t, here is some information about it. The circulatory system is the transport system of the body and its main function is to transports blood (which carries not only nutrients, but also oxygen to the cells in our entire body).
Because of this, you have to understand that the circulatory system is a primary function for life. Therefore, your main concern needs to be your health maintenance. Now, let us go back to our question:  Does Stress Affect the Circulatory System? The answer is yes. Stress is indeed one of the number one causes for illnesses of the circulatory system. When you are under continue stress, your blood pressure increases, which automatically increases the possibility of developing a heart disease. You might have noticed that when you are under a lot of stress, you feel a slight discomfort just above your heart. These are palpitations and they are a clear sign that you should take it easy to avoid different heart problems. Therefore, you have to remember that stress does affect the circulatory system.
Also, keep in mind that stress is a very common condition and it is a response to a physical threat or psychological distress. Therefore, you have to remember that stress does affect the circulatory system of each one of us. It has actually been proven that stress and disease can actually change the shape of our blood cells, turning them from round, smooth and shapely to cells that are distorted in shape and look curled up and don't function. On the other hand, on a long term, our metabolism slows and fat cells, particularly those around the gut, open up to receive more fat — the body's most storable source of energy. This means that stress also makes us fat.
Nevertheless, remember that when the stress diminished the normal physical functions come back to normal.
Stress sources
The stress sources that influence you and your health are endless. Your family, your job, your duties, shopping and even walking your dog can stress you out sometimes. What you have to do is to learn to avoid stress as much as possible and if you can’t, you should try some relaxation techniques that will get you trough the day.
Avoiding stress
If you feel that you have reached a point where you just cannot take the stress no more, you should consider learning relaxation techniques. The main relaxation technique is meditation. This technique is used for thousands of years and it is still very popular all over the world. However, you can also try yoga or Tai Chi. Remember also that regular exercise has even greater benefits for you, since exercise helps reduce stress and promotes relaxation. On the other hand, you can also try nutritional supplementation. For example, it has been shown that a low level of magnesium is associated with a decreased ability to handle stress. In addition, during times of stress the body needs more of the B vitamins. Herbs like valerian root, hops, kava kava, and passionflowers will help you with your relaxation.
Examples of stress related illnesses:
• Migraine headaches and most other headaches
• Muscle tension
• Heart attack and high blood pressure  
• Many types of Cancer
• Insomnia
• Ulcers
The bottom line is Stress affects your circulatory system, which makes it dangerous for your health and it makes it a priority in your life.