Women are under a tremendous amount of stress every day. But they often ignore the symptoms of this stress, even as it negatively affects their health. In this video, Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, author of Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum’s Heart Book: Every Woman’s Guide to a Heart Healthy Life and Bottom Line’s “At the Heart of It All” blog, explains that the hormones released during chronic stress can cause inflammation and plaque buildup in the heart and lining of the arteries. To combat these health risks, women must combat the stress itself. Two suggestions from Dr. Steinbaum: Spend time in a supportive and social environment…and realize that self-care is not selfish, but an essential part of heart health. Taking the effort to reduce chronic tension and stress can help women manage or even reverse the effects of heart disease.

Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum is a cardiologist, author and spokesperson for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Campaign. She has devoted her career to treating heart disease through early detection, education and prevention. For more great tips from Dr. Steinbaum, check out her other videos and Bottom Line blog, At The Heart Of It All.

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