Doctors have warned of the deadly dangers of chronic stress and insomnia

Chronic stress and sleep disorders are closely related to the risk of developing cardiovascular disasters. Marina Gadzhieva, a neurologist and a leading specialist of the Semeynaya clinic network, told Izvestia about this on August 27.

According to her, when faced with a stressful situation, the body triggers the ancient "fight or flight" reaction. The adrenal glands release cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine, which causes the heart to beat faster, increases blood pressure and blood sugar levels. In the short term, this is useful, but with chronic stress, this cascade does not stop, leading to decreased immunity, impaired metabolism, and high risks to the cardiovascular system.

"At night, during deep sleep, stress hormone levels normalize, blood pressure and heart rate decrease, giving blood vessels the opportunity to recover. However, with chronic sleep deprivation, this process is disrupted, and high levels of stress hormones accumulate, creating a vicious circle. The only way to break this chain is to consult a specialist in a timely manner," Hajiyeva said.

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At the same time, Natalia Plotnikova, a clinical psychologist at the Axon Mental Health clinic, pointed out that obsessive anxiety, which does not let go even at night, often hides unresolved psychological conflicts. Constantly elevated cortisol destroys blood vessels, disrupts blood pressure, and lack of sleep exacerbates this process, leading to hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes.

"Stress is not just a state of mind. This is a physiological storm in which hormones are involved: adrenaline, norepinephrine, cortisol. They mobilize the body, but with constant exposure they wear it out. Increased cortisol destroys blood vessels, disrupts blood pressure, and lack of sleep only exacerbates this process. The result is hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes," Plotnikova said.

According to statistics, 9 out of 10 heart attack patients have a history of chronic stress and sleep disorders. The average "experience" of insomnia before a vascular catastrophe is 3-5 years. Experts recommend paying attention to alarm signals: waking up between 3 and 4 a.m. with a feeling of panic, pressure surges for no physical reason, obsessive thoughts about work even in a dream.

To restore healthy sleep, experts recommend creating evening rituals: a warm shower, herbal tea, and a ventilated room. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and gradual muscle relaxation also help. It is important not just to take sleeping pills, but to change habits and, if necessary, seek professional help.

On March 20, endocrinologist, nutritionist at SM Clinic, PhD Oksana Mikhaleva told Izvestia about products that cause insomnia. So, this is a caffeinated food, which can include chocolate. That's why she recommended eliminating this product in the evening.

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