Heart Health: The Hidden Cost of Stress and Overperforming
The British Heart Foundation National Heart Month in 2025 is in February, and it made me reflect...
In 2024, I faced a serious health issue and had open-heart surgery because of a blood infection affecting my heart valve. The cause was unknown (I’ll save this for another blog), and lifechanging. On reflection I wasn't unhappy or felt stressed; I genuinely enjoy life, yet I felt overwhelmed by my responsibilities, whilst contently being on the go, all the time for a few months leading up to this. I do feel that because I am otherwise fit and healthy this helped massively with my recovery. This experience was a huge wake-up call that made me rethink what is truly important. By using resilience, a positive mindset, and the self-coaching techniques I teach, I got through those tough times and now have a fresh sense of purpose, values, and enthusiasm for life, my loved ones and empowering and connecting others.
This experience showed me how stress and overdoing it can harm not just our physical health but also our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, as well as our relationships and personal growth. Stress can feel good or go unnoticed until we take a break. In today's fast-paced world, many of us push ourselves to overachieve, making this pace of life the new normal. However this constant state of overdrive doesn’t just impact our productivity, it can take a serious toll on our heart health, relationships, and overall growth.
Stress isn’t inherently bad; it can motivate us to overcome challenges and act as a catalyst for action. In short bursts, stress triggers the release of adrenaline and cortisol, which prepare the body to respond to immediate demands, a state often referred to as "fight or flight." This feeling is sometimes described as "living on our nerves or even just being manic and busy."
However, chronic stress can wreak havoc on the body, particularly the heart. Prolonged exposure to stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline puts excessive strain on the cardiovascular system, increases blood pressure, and can even lead to heart disease. This also affects our immunity, which then can open us up to more illness and infection. My personal journey is a testament to how vital it is to prioritise heart health, not just physically, but emotionally, mentally and spiritually as well. LOOK AFTER YOUR HEART!
The Ripple Effects of Overperforming
Overperforming often stems from a fear of failure or a need to prove ourselves. Many people live outside of there means, this too can impact our drive to achieve, so we can keep a life style or pay bills. While striving for excellence can be empowering, constantly pushing beyond our limits comes at a cost:
Relationships: Stress can make us irritable, unavailable, or disconnected from loved ones.
Personal Growth: When we’re always "on," we lose the time and space for reflection, creativity, and intentional living. With increased pressure we often become forced into treating our bodies like they’re machines.
Well-Being: Without limits and ignoring our mind and body, burnout will happen, leaving us exhausted and unable to thrive.
Stress Free Heart Health with Thrive Life Coaching
WHAT TRULY MATTERS?
My heart surgery forced me to pause and ask, “What truly matters?” The answers come easily, but at the time I didn’t feel I need to question this. It was simple: health, loved ones, meaningful connections, and the ability to live a life aligned with my values. Through self-coaching and all the support around me, I rebuilt my life with greater balance and intention, and I now feel ready to continue to help others do the same.
Finding Balance and Thriving
Protecting your heart means more than avoiding stress; it’s about living a life that feels authentic and sustainable. At Thrive Life Coaching, I work with individuals who are ready to step out of the cycle of stress and overperformance. Together, we’ll identify what drives these patterns, create practical steps to restore balance, and build a life where you can truly thrive.
Your First Step Toward Change
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start, I invite you to book a free coaching consultation with me. This session is an opportunity to:
Explore what’s holding you back.
Define what balance, success, and thriving look like for you.
Discover how Thrive Life Coaching can support you in creating a healthier, more intentional (stress FREE) life.
Your heart deserves care, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually too. Let’s work together to create a life where you feel energised, connected, and thriving.
Click here to book your free consultation and take the first step toward a more balanced, thriving you.
Every Blessing
Suzi B xxx
