Mental health influences the health of our heart – a statement that can be perceived as a truism, but we are often superficially aware of the profound impact our mental state has on our body.
Preliminary results from two new studies presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2023 Annual Meeting, reported by HealthDay, demonstrates that, on the one hand, depression and anxiety can accelerate the onset of cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, and on the other hand, chronic stress is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and blockage arteries.
The first study: data from over 71,000 adults, collected from 2010 to 2020.
People diagnosed with anxiety or depression developed a new cardiovascular risk factor about six months earlier than people without a mood disorder over 5 years. Depression and anxiety increased the risk of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke (CVA), or other major cardiovascular event by about 35%. The accelerated onset of a cardiovascular risk factor explained approximately 40% of the association between mood disorders and major cardiac events. People genetically predisposed to stress tend to develop their first risk factor about a year and a half earlier, on average, than those without a genetic risk. Photo source: Pixabay
The second study: 2,700 adults without diagnosed CVD, followed for an average of 12 years. Participants completed a daily questionnaire from which their cumulative stress score (SSC) was calculated.
SSC was associated with the occurrence of CVD regardless of other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, increased cholesterol. Stress was associated with a 22% increased risk of atherosclerotic plaque formation in the arteries and a 20% increased risk of CVD overall.
Chronic stress influences heart health not only through biological processes – eg, released cortisol affects blood sugar and stimulates inflammation, but also indirectly, through the lifestyle choices a person makes during difficult times – eg, consumption of junk food, sweets, excess fat affects the health of the heart, but also feeds the poor mental state, which in turn influences chronic stress – the vicious cycle repeats itself endlessly.
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2023-11-12 09:04:27
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