According to the American Institute of Stress, stressful life change events—being appointed CEO, for example—has been linked to higher rates of heart attacks. Other causes include having a type A personality and emotions such as depression, anxiety, hostility, anger.
“Stress will make your cholesterol go up,” Stephen Kopecky, a preventive cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., told The Wall Street Journal. “Without a doubt, that has been underrecognized.” Understanding the effect of stress on cholesterol is becoming more important as CEOs’ lives increasingly are crammed with obligations, and digital technology makes switching off harder than ever, cardiologists say.
Of most concern is chronic stress, which taxes the body over time, rather than episodes of short-term stress resulting from surprises or temporary difficulties, cardiologists say. Chronic stress can lead to higher cholesterol in several ways. People may stop exercising, or add more unhealthy foods to their diet. Stress also stimulates the release of the hormones cortisol and adrenaline, part of a “fight or flight” mechanism the body adopts to protect itself. Those hormones in turn stimulate the release of triglycerides and free fatty acids, which over time can boost LDL cholesterol, the Journal reported.
Read more: 7 Secrets to Reducing Leadership Stress
How’s your stress level? Take a test to find out.
Here are six medical screenings you can do at home.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
