10.22.2008 1:00 am
Don’t let the financial crisis hurt your heart
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Louise Hawkley, associate director of the Social Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Chicago, explains to health.com How the Financial Crisis Could Break Your Heart, Literally.
Hawkley says elevated stress hormones constrict blood vessels, creating a vicious cycle where blood scrapes the cells and aggravates atherosclerotic plaque. This cycle increases the risk for a cardiovascular event like a heart attack. She and other experts recommend reducing stress by reaching out to friends and family members during such times and getting exercise. Laughing helps, too. For a quick chuckle, check out my blog entry from yesterday.
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Cindy Billhartz Gregorian is a features reporter at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She has reported for the Healthy & Fit section since its first issue. She's a distance runner with seven marathons under her belt. 
