Seven Days

Dubai, March 6: Doctors in Dubai say taking a cool look at your daily routine might shock you into doing something to tackle your stress levels - as new research shows the harm it can do.

Scientists have uncovered some vital clues as to how stress can trigger a heart attack. The study found evidence that stress can elevate blood pressure over an extended period, and trigger the release of high levels of clot-forming platelets, which can lead to a heart attack.

A group of men who had suffered a heart attack or severe chest pain, were given a series of stressful tasks to do, one included imagining stressful situations and another included making a speech.

Measurements were then taken of their blood pressure and chemistry. In all men the blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output increased in response to the induced stress.

To avoid falling victim to a heart attack, health experts now recommend that we recognise what stresses us out and come up with coping strategies to help control how we respond.

But when modern life is bumper full of pressures and frustration, how can anyone control stress?

Sitting in traffic is stressful, trying to cross the street in Dubai is stressful and even watching television is stressful. What - with earthquakes, floods, war and terrorist attacks, just ten minutes of watching the news alone can make your stress level soar.

Dr El Sayed, head of cardiology department at Manchester Clinic, warns that people in Dubai should pay serious attention to pinpointing out what in their lives promotes stress.

Long working hours have become the norm in Dubai and most people here tend to work hard too. Dr Sayed fears that too many people could be developing high stress levels, which could ultimately lead to heart problems.

“People working in Dubai are seriously stressed, because they work too hard - usually 12 hour days from 7am until 7pm. People need to take a break,” says Dr Sayed.

One businessman by the name of Umar, was shocked to hear what his day daily routine consisted off, when he actually recited it out-loud.

“I get up at around six am, but I’m usually awake since four am, because I don’t tend to sleep very soundly. I leave the house at seven am, because I live Sharjah direction and it takes about two hours of sitting in snail-pace traffic to my office,” says Umar.

“Being in sales, my entire day involves meetings in various different places around Dubai - so I am constantly on the road, getting lost and running in and out of buildings.

Sometimes I take a taxi because I get too frustrated to drive my own car. Lunch is a luxury, I can’t afford. I am meant to stop work at six, but I am rarely out of the office before seven or eight.”

Stress can make you feel angry. It can make it hard to sleep and give you aches in your head, neck, jaw and back. It can lead to habits like smoking, drinking, overeating or drug abuse. Or like Umar you may not even feel it at all, even though your body suffers from it.

“Those who should be most concerned about a stress induced heart attack are people who have a family history of heart problems, those who have high blood-pressure, are diabetic or heavy smokers,” says Doctor Sayed.

Some people are more vulnerable than others to stress blood pressure and these people are therefore more vulnerable to heart attacks. Doctors can categorise patients into risk categories through some simple tests.

Stress tests, such as those conducted at the Manchester clinic, measure the amount of extra blood supplied to a heart that is working harder than normal. An echocardiogram shows the effect of the blood-flow through the heart muscle, to see if there are any defects.

Through these tests, doctors can categorise patients as high risk or low risk. Experts recommend that everyone get checked out regularly by a cardio-vascular doctor – especially, both men and women over the age of 45.

STRESS REDUCING TECHNIQUES

LOOK AFTER YOUR BODY

To handle stress, your body requires a healthy diet and adequate rest. Exercise also helps to distract you from stressful events and release your nervous energy.

LEARN TO RELAX

Deep-breathing exercises may put you in a relaxed state. If you have persistent trouble relaxing, consider taking up meditation or studying yoga or tai chi. Eastern disciplines are said to focus your mind, calm your anxieties and release your physical tension. Therapeutic massage may also loosen taut muscles and calm frazzled nerves.

SHIFT YOUR OUTLOOK

In many cases, simply choosing to look at situations in a more positive way can reduce the amount of stress in your life.

Step back from the conflict or worry that’s put you in knots and ask what part of it is troubling you most. Take a break, talk to someone close and get a different perspective on your troubles

CONCENTRATE ON ONE THING AT A TIME

Stressing about work you haven’t done yet only detracts from accomplishing the task at hand. Take your time in arriving at decisions.

SING YOUR HEART OUT

Go somewhere private, put on your favourite tune and sing your heart out. You will be putting your energy into something enjoyable rather than making yourself crazy with stress.