In this article, we’ll dive into the basics of stress and how chronic stress can raise your risk of heart disease., In some people with heart disease, mental stress can curtail blood flow to the heart, boosting the risk of a heart attack. If you're suddenly thrust into a stressful, anxiety-provoking situation, your heart may speed up and your blood pressure may rise., Stress increases the plaque rate and it can accumulate in the arteries. It makes platelets sticky and prone to forming clots that can block these arteries. Stress can also cause arteries to constrict, starving the heart of nourishing blood and triggering chest pain or a heart attack., Having too much stress, for too long, is bad for your heart. If you're often stressed, and you don't have good ways to manage it, you are more likely to have heart disease, high blood, Several health conditions, your lifestyle, and your age and family history can increase your risk for heart disease. These are called risk factors. Key risk factors for heart disease include: Some risk factors for heart disease cannot be controlled, such as your age or family history., Learn how chronic stress affects the cardiovascular system, who’s most at risk for stress-related heart trouble, and provide practical tips to de-stress and protect your health..