Does your body react to an event or stressful situation? Doctors have long been saying that stress is bad for the heart, but living with heart disease means we need to avoid and manage stress for our health. Diagnosis and treatment can be stressful, as well as family obligations, the frustrating medical system, and work can add more stress, too.

On MyHeartDiseaseTeam, the social network and online support group for those living with heart disease, members talk about a range of personal experiences and struggles. Managing stress is one of the top topics most discussed.

Here are some question-and-answer threads about managing stress:

• How many of you suffer from anxiety now that your heart condition is here?? Tell me what you do to calm yourself?
• Does anyone's family members not include you because they don't think you are capable of going places?

Here is a conversation about managing stress:

• A member talks about finding herself in the stress of the "donut hole" of Medicare and seeking help from her doctor.

A member talks about the stress of other people trying to decide what she should eat and buy after they find out she has heart problems.

• "It seems as if everything changes with heart disease not just your body and abilities but everything and everyone."

Can you relate?

Have another topic you'd like to discuss or explore? Go to MyHeartDiseaseTeam today and start the conversation. You'll be surprised just how many others may share similar stories.

Feel free to ask a question here.