Heart images in many sizes, substances, and configurations collected by artist Elaine Luneke.

Vol 20 Issue 1,  February 18, 2022
 
You’ve likely heard lots about mental health in the news these days, often related to the stresses and strains on our lives brought on by the pandemic. But there’s another story here.

Did you know there’s a strong connection between your heart health and your emotional well-being? When depression, anxiety, and everyday stress become overwhelming, they can put added strain on your heart.

Our friend and speaker, Dr. Karen Wolfe, aka “Dr. Karen,” has delved into this topic, and she shared her conclusions in a recent blog post. I’m pleased to share her discoveries and thoughts about it today, in commemoration of heart health in the month of February.

The Heart Health, Mental Health Connection

by Dr. Karen Wolfe

Most of us consider heart disease as a physical condition, but our thoughts, attitudes and emotions are just as important.

A large and growing body of research shows that mental health is associated with risk factors for heart disease. These effects can arise both directly, through biological pathways, and indirectly, through risky health behaviors.

Mind Body Connections to Heart Disease

1. Stress can contribute to abnormally high blood pressure and circulation problems.
2. Negative psychological factors, personality traits, and mental health disorders can affect cardiovascular health.
3. Chronic anger and hostility have been linked to increased risk of heart disease.
4. Anxiety is also associated with heart disease. Several meta-analyses of studies of this association have been published, the largest study in 2016 involving a large number of participants (2).
5. An optimistic frame of mind has been shown to be associated with healthy aging and a lower risk of heart disease including stroke and heart failure, and even with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (2).
6. A greater sense of purpose in life has been associated with better cardiovascular health, longevity, and reduced risk of heart disease including decreased risk of both heart attack and stroke (2).
7. Clinical depression can not only increase the risk of heart disease but also worsen an existing condition.

Does Depression Affect Our Heart?

Depression has been proven to be a such a risk factor in cardiac disease that the American Heart Association (AHA) has recommended that all cardiac patients be screened for depression.

“When you experience depression, anxiety or stress, your heart rate and blood pressure rise. There’s reduced blood flow to the heart, and your body produces higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. Over time, these effects can lead to heart disease.”  – AHA 

And the American Psychological Association agrees — 

“Long-term studies reveal that men and women diagnosed with clinical depression are more than twice as likely to develop coronary artery disease or suffer a heart attack. In addition, heart patients are three times as likely to be depressed at any given time as the population as a whole.” 

 
The American Heart Association Officially Concludes They’re Integrated

Research linking mental and cardiovascular health has reached critical mass. In 2021 the American Heart Association created a commission specifically to evaluate, synthesize, and summarize the relationship between psychological health and cardiovascular health and disease. They concluded on behalf of the AHA that heart health is indeed integrated with mind, heart, and body into one system, and that treatment for heart issues alone is insufficient:

“Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) should not be addressed as an isolated entity but rather as one part of an integrated system in which mind, heart, and body are interconnected. Both positive psychological status and negative psychological status appear to affect cardiovascular health directly.” (2)
 
A Cause as Well as a Result?

Depression can be both a cause of and a result of cardiovascular (heart) disease. Even mild depression is a common and significant risk factor for developing heart disease and can also raise the risk of future cardiovascular complications.

Here are a few ways that heart disease and depression are linked —

The Inflammation Link

For decades, researchers have been investigating a potential association between inflammation and depression (2). The studies to date confirm that people with depression often have elevated blood markers for inflammation. One recent study of more than 43,000 women concluded that eating an “inflammatory diet” correlated with an increased risk of developing depression.

An inflammatory diet includes all the usual suspects — alcohol, fast food, fried foods of all kinds, processed food like lunch meat and hot dogs, meats, especially red meats, refined grains, packaged snack food like chips and crackers, trans fats of all kinds, and sugar, including table sugar, sodas, candy, cakes, cookies, etc.

On the other hand, a food plan focusing on whole foods, like the Mediterranean Diet, is naturally anti-inflammatory. Information on how to adopt this heart-healthy eating pattern, which may also benefit depression and heart heath, is easily accessible on the web or from your local bookstore.


Depression links to lifestyle factors that contribute to heart disease

• Poor eating and overeating
• Inactivity
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Social isolation
• Smoking
• Weight gain
• Medication noncompliance
• Missed preventive health screenings

 
Common Symptoms of Depression and Heart Disease

• Low energy
• Sleep problems
• Irritability
• Lack of physical activity

 
Assessing Depression

Early detection and treatment of depression in heart patients are crucial to improving a patient’s quality of life and possibly preventing a recurrent coronary event. Studies have shown that, for people with heart disease, depression can increase the risk of an adverse cardiac event such as a heart attack or blood clots.
 
So What Can You Do?

I believe we all have an inborn, innate capacity to meet stress head on and transform stress into growth. I see it every day.

We are resilient. We can bounce back and learn. Considering the important effect stress and psychological states have on our heart, it is important to build resilience. 

Resilience won’t make your problems go away — but resilience can boost your ability to handle stress.

A large body of research shows that experiencing more stress than we can cope with and adapt to isn’t good for cardiovascular health — or our ability to develop heart-healthy habits. That’s true for both men and women.

If you aren’t as resilient as you’d like to be, you can develop skills to become more resilient.

NOTE This information does not constitute medical advice. This is compiled for educational purposes only. Your doctor knows you best. Talk to your doctor for specific questions about your personal health.
 
REFERENCES

1. Litchman JH, et al., ”Depression and coronary heart disease: Recommendations for screening, referral and treatment. A science advisory from the American Heart Association Prevention Committee of the Council on Cardiovascular Nursing, Council on Clinical Cardiology, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, and Interdisciplinary Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research: endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association”. Circulation, Oct 21, 2008. 118(17):1768-1775.
2. Levine G.N., Cohen B.E., Commodore-Mensah Y., Fleury J., Huffman J.C., Khalid U., Labarthe D.R., Lavretsky H., Michos E.D., Spatz E.S., Kubzansky L.D.; on behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health. “Psychological health, well-being, and the mind-heart-body connection: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.” Circulation.2021;143:e763–e783. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000947 

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About Dr. Karen Wolfe

Dr. Karen is a knowledgeable and engaging speaker who has a knack for taking complex medical information and translating and applying it in everyday life.

Although medical professionals may have ample experiential evidence of the connection between mental and physical health, Dr. Karen spells out for them the evidence, the studies of chemical and physiological reactions that link them.

For a lay audience, she brings vital and previously unknown information about the importance of supplementing the treatment of heart health with a focus on depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental factors they may have been unaware of. Bringing that knowledge to everyday life can benefit your audience in myriad ways.

Karen is an Australian physician, health coach, author, and international speaker. Born in Sydney Australia, she graduated from Sydney University with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and completed a master’s degree in psychology from National University in California.

She has worked as a practicing physician as well as director of a corporate wellness program. A summary of her career is available by clicking here.

Her vision is to integrate the best of Western and the best of complementary approaches to wellness. She is the author of seven books which include Medicine from the Inside Out and Create the Body Your Soul Desires. She is an international speaker on wellness and nutrition, and she is a regular lecturer to the public as well as hospital groups, women’s conferences, and professional organizations throughout the USA and abroad.

She cares that her audiences get it, so her presentations often include demonstrations and participation that bring personal meaning to her audience members.

To bring Dr. Karen to speak to your community, either virtually or in person, click here. That’s a good way to help people in your organization learn how to build up their resilience and protect their heart health.

In addition to her prepared talks, she also offers her knowledge in another engaging format: the conversation with an expert. In one example of that she recently gave her holistic views in conversation with a cardiologist in a moderated interview that was very successful. To view it, click here. 
 
Until next time, take care of yourself for your well being and those you love. — Barbara

 

 

 

 

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