He said: "Constant mental stress contributes to increased sympathetic nervous system activity, faster heartbeats, and pulse rate variability, which reduces cardiac elasticity and increases the risk of arrhythmias and ischemia in susceptible individuals."
He added that mental fatigue is not limited to the brain only, but also affects the heart's self-regulation , explaining that after a few hours of intense mental activity, the heart rate increases and blood pressure and cortisol levels rise .
He pointed out that after 4-5 hours of intense mental work, the metabolism in the prefrontal cortex changes , and the level of glutamate, a neurotransmitter associated with fatigue and stress, increases.
Gulyaev advised reducing intense mental work to 3-4 hours per day , with breaks every 60 to 90 minutes . He also suggested using breathing techniques and physical activity to restore balance to the autonomic nervous system.
He warned that chronic stress increases the risk of myocardial infarction because it accelerates atherosclerosis and is associated with elevated inflammatory markers. He said, "Chronic stress raises the risk of myocardial infarction due to accelerated atherosclerosis and increased inflammation."
He explained that when signs of acute or chronic fatigue appear, simple rules should be followed, such as:
Set aside 5-10 minutes daily for breathing exercises or walking .
Monitoring blood pressure and pulse .
Adhering to a regular work and rest schedule and getting enough sleep, at least 7 hours a day .
