How Mental Health Can Impact Your Heart Health

Throughout the years, doctors and scientists believed that the connection between mental and physical health was strictly behavioral. But that mindset has started to change. According to the American Heart Association, there is research that shows that there could be psychological connections as well.

The American Heart Association states that the chemical and biological factors that trigger mental health issues also can influence heart disease.

Many forms of mental health issues can impact your heart, according to the American Heart Association. Stress is one of them. Research has not strongly linked stress and heart disease. But there is a growing belief that stress can be an additional risk factor for heart disease. Stress can increase hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. This increase in adrenaline and cortisol can impact your blood pressure and heart rate.

According to Cleveland Clinic, many studies have shown that negative mental health can have a negative impact on your heart health. For people with heart disease, depression can increase your risk for a heart attack or blood clots. For people who do not have heart disease, depression can increase your risk for a heart attack, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Improving your mental health can improve your quality of life. If our mental health is not properly taken care of, we are damaging ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. If you are struggling with your mental health, we strongly suggest consulting with your physician.