How Stress Affects Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health

By: Salus Integrative Medicine – Dr. Lisa Mainier, Erie, PA

Chronic stress is more than just a mental burden—it has real, measurable impacts on your physical health. At Salus Integrative Medicine in Erie, PA, Dr. Lisa Mainier helps patients understand how stress affects metabolic and cardiovascular health, and offers evidence-based, integrative tools to regulate the nervous system and promote long-term wellness.

What Happens to the Body Under Chronic Stress?

When your body is under stress, it activates the sympathetic nervous system—commonly known as the “fight or flight” response. This releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which increase:

Heart rate and blood pressure
Blood sugar levels
Inflammatory markers
Insulin resistance

These changes are helpful in short bursts but harmful when persistent. Chronic stress can contribute to:

High blood pressure (hypertension)
Elevated cholesterol and triglycerides
Weight gain, especially abdominal fat (also known as “visceral fat”
Insulin resistance and blood sugar imbalances
Increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes

The Mind-Body Connection: More Than Just a Feeling

Stress doesn’t just feel bad—it disrupts biological systems. The gut-brain axis, immune function, hormone balance, and metabolic rate are all influenced by your mental state. Unchecked, stress leads to systemic inflammation, a key driver of chronic illness.

Integrative medicine recognizes this mind-body connection and uses it to support healing from the inside out.

Integrative Tools to Calm the Nervous System

Dr. Lisa Mainier offers personalized, research-supported strategies to help patients reduce stress and protect their metabolic and cardiovascular health:

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): Evidence-based meditation and breathwork techniques that lower cortisol and blood pressure.
Heart rate variability (HRV) training: A tool to improve vagal tone and restore balance to the autonomic nervous system.
Nutritional support: Targeted nutrients and supplements to calm the nervous system and support adrenal function.
Sleep optimization: Regulating circadian rhythm improves insulin sensitivity and reduces blood pressure.
Movement and body awareness practices: Yoga, tai chi, and gentle exercise reduce stress hormones and improve cardiovascular resilience.

When to Seek Help

If you’re experiencing fatigue, weight gain, elevated blood pressure, or worsening blood sugar control, stress may be a root contributor. Dr. Mainier works with patients to uncover these connections and build customized plans to restore balance using evidence-based integrative care.

Take the Next Step Toward Healing

You don’t have to live with the damaging effects of chronic stress. At Salus Integrative Medicine, Dr. Lisa Mainier offers personalized, preventive care that supports your whole body—starting with the nervous system.

Contact Salus Integrative Medicine in Erie, PA to begin your healing journey:
https://drlisamainier.com/contact-me/