Ocala and West Marion Hospitals promote stress awareness

Ocala, FL — April is Stress Awareness Month, and healthcare professionals want you to know stress can cause serious harm to your health. According to the American Heart Association, long-term stress creates risks for a variety of health challenges. It can lead to digestive issues, heart disease, weight gain and even stroke.

“Increased levels of psychosocial stress, like the kind you get from pressures at work, are related to the risk of both fatal and nonfatal stroke in adults. Stress can lead to an activation of the part of the nervous system that causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict and reduce or cut off blood supply, which can lead to a stroke,” said Michelle Hamilton, Stroke Program Manager at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital.

Hamilton notes, for example, that 9.2% of stroke patients reported becoming angry and emotionally upset within one hour of having their stroke.

“Stress can increase the blood pressure significantly, which increases the risk of a brain hemorrhage. Managing stress through lifestyle changes and medical treatment can help reduce the risk of stroke,” Hamilton added.

What affects your level of stress varies from person to person. Positive events, such as a marriage, new job or new home can cause as much stress as negative events like family issues, financial strain, or overwork. Learning what triggers your stress and what coping mechanisms work for you is key to managing through a stressful time. The National Institutes of Health offers the following suggestions:

• Exercise and eat healthy, regular meals.
• Get enough sleep.
• Avoid excess caffeine, such as in coffee or soft drinks.
• Reach out to family or friends who can help you cope in a positive way.
• Download a relaxation or mindfulness app and practice deep breathing and relaxation exercises.

If stress is interfering with your daily life, causing you to avoid activities or having physical consequences such as digestive upset or insomnia, speak with a healthcare professional.

You can also call HCA Florida Healthcare’s Consult-A-Nurse helpline at (844) 706-8773 any time, day or night, to discuss your symptoms with an experienced, licensed nurse who can offer guidance on next steps.

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital are the only healthcare providers in Ocala recognized for 10 or more consecutive calendar years of Gold Plus achievement in Get With the Guidelines – Stroke, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death. Get With the Guidelines – Stroke puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work as an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to the latest scientific treatment guidelines.  

HCA Florida Healthcare has the state’s largest cardiovascular network, providing superior cardiovascular assessments, care, technology and education. In Central Florida, cardiologists and surgeons across our five hospitals are part of a world-class team of heart specialists who build each patient a personalized treatment plan that leverages the latest technology and research.