Heart disease has long been associated with tangible, measurable risk factors like elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, eating too much sweets and fatty food, leading a sedentary life, and smoking and drinking. Yet medical experts are now convinced that the heart is also just as affected by stress.

“Stress — that is, the physical, mental, or emotional strain one feels from a demanding circumstance — is part of everyday life,” began Alejandro Ramon Prieto, MD, from the Section of Cardiology of top hospital in the Philippines Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed).