Can Stress Cause a Stroke?

A stroke is a medical emergency that affects more than 795,000 people in the United States each year. If you’d like to avoid such an event, you may want to look at the stress in your life. 

At his New Rochelle, New York offices, fellowship-trained neurologist Dr. Farhad Elyaderani helps people recover from strokes and experience greater overall health. 

What happens during a stroke

Ischemic strokes happen when the blood supply to your brain has been blocked or severely limited. Hemorrhagic strokes stem from a ruptured artery that supplies blood to your brain. In both cases, your brain cells start dying because they can’t get enough oxygen or nutrients.

While ischemic strokes are more common, hemorrhagic strokes are more dangerous. Signs of both types include:

• Balance and coordination problems
• Difficulty talking or comprehending others’ words 
• Facial numbness, weakness, or paralysis
• Headaches
• Vision changes, such as blurriness or seeing double

You can also experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Also known as “ministrokes,” TIAs temporarily block blood flow to the brain and raise your risk for a full-on stroke. TIA symptoms mirror those of other strokes but usually resolve within 24 hours.

How stress affects your stroke risk

Unmanaged stress may not directly cause a stroke, but it can raise your risk for cardiovascular problems. Stress causes your heart to work harder to move blood through your body. This raises your blood pressure and the amount of fat and sugar in your blood. From there, blood clots that disrupt circulation to your heart or brain can form, making way for a heart attack or stroke. 

Stress may also fuel a stroke by:

• Interfering with restful sleep
• Making it difficult to exercise or eat a nutritious diet
• Prompting you to lean on unhealthy coping mechanisms, like smoking or drinking alcohol

Anger increases your heart rate and blood pressure, too. So, if you respond to stressors in your life with angry outbursts, your stroke risk increases further. One study linked experiencing sudden, intense anger with a heightened stroke risk within an hour.

How to lower your stroke risk

While not every stroke can be avoided, you can lower your risk. In fact, an estimated 80% of strokes could be prevented through lifestyle changes and early intervention. 

Smart preventive steps, which can also help you feel less stressed, include:

• Eating a diet based on nutritious foods (like vegetables, whole grains, and fish)
• Engaging in 2.5 hours of moderately intense exercise per week*
• Sleeping for 7-8 hours most nights
• Staying well hydrated
• Getting routine blood pressure checks and managing high blood pressure

*If you’ve already had a stroke, you may need to ease into exercise. Dr. Elyaderani can make specific recommendations based on your health needs.

If healthy lifestyle changes and managing your physical health aren’t enough to lower your stress level, seek support from loved ones or a therapist. Mindfulness exercises, such as meditation, can also bring emotional ease while supporting your brain health.

To learn more about stress and stroke risk or get the support you need, call Dr. Farhad Elyaderani or request an appointment online today.