{"id":111669,"date":"2025-06-25T14:20:22","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T14:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/?post_type=news&#038;p=111669"},"modified":"2025-06-25T14:20:22","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T14:20:22","slug":"can-stress-cause-a-stroke","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/news\/can-stress-cause-a-stroke\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Stress Cause a Stroke?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/conditions-and-treatments\/stroke\">Stroke<\/a>\u00a0is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S. And while we often hear about risk factors like\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/conditions-and-treatments\/high-blood-pressure\">high blood pressure<\/a>\u00a0, elevated cholesterol levels, and smoking, there\u2019s another that often flies under the radar: stress.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s hard to draw a straight line between a stressful event and a stroke,\u201d says\u00a0<a title=\"http:\/\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/people\/112358677-curtis-g-benesch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. Curtis Benesch<\/a>, Medical Director of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/locations\/stroke-center-smh\">UR Medicine\u2019s Comprehensive Stroke Center<\/a>\u00a0since its start in 1996. \u201cBut when you look at large populations, there is a clear, statistically significant association between chronic stress and stroke risk.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how something as intangible as stress might affect something as serious as a stroke\u2014and what steps you can take to protect your health.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Can Long-Term Stress Raise Your Risk of Stroke?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"column clearfix\">\n<figure class=\"figure float-left mr-2 mb-0 w-50\"><\/figure>\n<div>\n<p align=\"left\">Yes, chronic stress can increase your risk of stroke, but not in a direct way. Dr. Benesch explains that long-term stress contributes to common stroke risk factors like high blood pressure, poor sleep, unhealthy habits, and systemic inflammation.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Over time, this can lead to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/conditions-and-treatments\/carotid-artery-disease\">atherosclerosis<\/a>\u00a0(hardening of the arteries), which raises your risk for an ischemic stroke, the most common type.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p align=\"left\">\u201cWe don\u2019t have a \u2018stress meter\u2019 like we have a blood pressure cuff, but what we do know is that high levels of chronic stress correlate with higher rates of stroke and cardiovascular disease,\u201d says Dr. Benesch.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>What Happens To Your Body When You\u2019re Stressed?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When you&#8217;re under stress, your body releases stress hormones like epinephrine (better known as adrenaline) and cortisol. These hormones are helpful in short bursts\u2014they help us react to danger\u2014but when they\u2019re constantly elevated, they can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Raise your blood pressure<\/li>\n<li>Elevate blood sugar levels<\/li>\n<li>Promote inflammation<\/li>\n<li>Encourage blood clot formation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All of these factors contribute to vascular damage and, ultimately, higher stroke risk.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Can a Scary or Traumatic Event Cause a Stroke?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>While chronic stress is more strongly linked to ischemic stroke, there is evidence that extreme acute stress\u2014like experiencing violence, a car accident, or a natural disaster\u2014may increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe see these extreme acute responses more often in cardiac events, like\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/conditions-and-treatments\/heart-attack\">heart attacks<\/a>\u00a0or \u2018broken heart syndrome,\u2019\u201d Dr. Benesch says. \u201cIn stroke, it&#8217;s less common, but if a person has very high blood pressure and a vulnerable blood vessel, severe stress could trigger a hemorrhagic event.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"column clearfix\">\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-primary\" title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/news\/publications\/health-matters\/can-you-have-a-stroke-and-not-know-it\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Can you have a stroke and not know it?\u00a0<i class=\"icon ion-android-arrow-forward\"><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h5><strong>Are Some People More Vulnerable to Stress-Related Health Risks?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"column clearfix\">\n<div class=\"simplebox bg-light float-right p-2 ml-2 w-50\">\n<p>Yes. Research shows that people in lower socioeconomic groups may be more vulnerable to stress-related stroke. Factors like financial instability, unsafe housing, or lack of access to healthcare can contribute to chronic stress.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p align=\"left\">\u201cFor someone who doesn\u2019t worry about the cost of eggs, that stressor might not register. But for someone on a tight budget, that daily worry adds up,\u201d says Dr. Benesch.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">\u201cThese are systemic factors that contribute to chronic stress and, in turn, increase health risks.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h5><strong>How Does Stress Affect Your Risk for Stroke?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Stress can sneak into every part of your life, making it more likely you will trade healthy habits for those that raise your risk of stroke, like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Poor diet<\/li>\n<li>Lack of exercise<\/li>\n<li>Smoking or drinking more<\/li>\n<li>Poor sleep<\/li>\n<li>Skipping medications<\/li>\n<li>Avoiding doctor visits<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These habits create a ripple effect, worsening major stroke risk factors like high blood pressure,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/conditions-and-treatments\/diabetes\">diabetes<\/a>, and elevated\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/conditions-and-treatments\/high-cholesterol\">cholesterol<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Can Managing Stress Help Prevent Stroke?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>While stress alone isn\u2019t typically listed as a stroke risk factor in clinical guidelines, managing it is essential for overall cardiovascular health.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut if you\u2019re not sleeping, not eating well, and not taking care of yourself, that stress is clearly affecting your health,\u201d says Dr. Benesch.<\/p>\n<p>He recommends simple strategies:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find an activity that brings you joy, like reading, gardening, or spending time with family.<\/li>\n<li>Try mindfulness techniques if that appeals to you.<\/li>\n<li>Talk to a doctor or mental health provider if stress feels unmanageable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><strong>How to Include Stress Management in Your Stroke Prevention Strategy<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Dr. Benesch encourages patients to take stress seriously\u2014but not to let it overwhelm them. \u201cYou can\u2019t control everything, but you can take control of small, daily decisions that support your health,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s going for a walk, getting enough sleep, or talking to someone about what\u2019s on your mind, stress management is a vital part of caring for your heart, brain, and body.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What Are the Warning Signs of a Stroke? (FAST Guide)<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"column clearfix\">\n<figure class=\"figure embed float-right ml-2 w-0\">No matter your stress level, it\u2019s critical to recognize the signs of a stroke. Use the acronym <b>FAST<\/b>:<\/figure>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><b>F<\/b>ace drooping<\/li>\n<li><b>A<\/b>rm weakness<\/li>\n<li><b>S<\/b>peech difficulty<\/li>\n<li><b>T<\/b>ime to call 911<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p align=\"left\">Prompt treatment can significantly improve outcomes, especially for ischemic strokes that benefit from early intervention.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p align=\"left\">Image by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/geraldoswald62-3547849\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1749577\">Gerald Oswald<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1749577\">Pixabay<\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/news\/story\/stress-and-stroke-risk\">Original post: University of Rochester Medical Center<\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">By Nina Elias<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stroke\u00a0is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S. And while we often hear about risk factors like\u00a0high blood pressure\u00a0, elevated cholesterol levels, and smoking, there\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":111670,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"pmpro_default_level":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false},"categories":[12,178,142],"tags":[136,137,141,143,147],"class_list":["post-111669","news","type-news","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adult-stress","category-burnout","category-health","tag-ais","tag-american-institute-of-stress","tag-health","tag-mental-health","tag-stress-management","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Can Stress Cause a Stroke? 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