Summary: Episodes of emotional stress, especially when sudden, severe and unexpected, may have significant adverse effects on the heart. Acute emotional stress can increase sympathetic stimulation of the heart and can alter brain activity in a way that makes the heart more susceptible to rhythm disturbances. Since episodes of emotional stress are almost inevitable in life, part of a healthy lifestyle is learning how to deal effectively with stress to make them less likely to lead to adverse effects; relaxation therapy, yoga, meditation, and other ways of responding to stress may be important for individuals to become familiar with to accomplish this.
