Blog By: Todd J. Cohen MD

Tough times for the economy, unrest in the Middle East, and changes in health care can all add stress to our lives. These stressors can all cause havoc to the heart and manifest itself in a variety of ways. One of those ways is an increase in arrhythmias. This includes atrial and ventricular premature contractions, atrial tachycardias such as atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, other forms of supraventricular tachycardia, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia and, in some cases, sustained ventricular tachycardia.

The worse the cardiac substrate, the worse the propensity is to all of these arrhythmias. So what can we do? We may not be able to change the stressors, but we could change how we deal with them.

First, exercise can help keep a balance in life and will maintain good cardiac fitness. Second, practices such as yoga and the relaxation response (including meditation) can help put your life in perspective. Third, keeping a diary and talking to a counselor can provide a release for your stress. Lastly, when all else fails, seeking medical help through your doctor can help.

Yes, medical and or other therapies may be necessary if the arrhythmia is significant or otherwise bothersome, but using the tips listed above can help keep life's stressors in check and prevent them from causing havoc to your heart.

Todd J. Cohen, MD, FACC, FHRS is the Emeritus Editor-in-Chief of EP Lab Digest, author of Practical Electrophysiology, and author of the recently published Johns Hopkins Health Book entitled "A Patient's Guide to Heart Rhythm Problems."