Avry Farmer

Heart conditions can range in severity, from triggering sporadic heart attacks, to spikes of high cholesterol. Millions of Americans suffer from the effects of these issues every day which affect all parts of daily function. However, an aspect often overlooked in treatment and progression of defects is the hidden killer: your psychological health. In a study done by the British Heart Foundation, it was discovered nearly 70% of those living with heart conditions were forced to deal with an automatic decline in the maintenance of their mental, emotional, and psychological wellbeing. Today, experts are interested in discovering the root causes of these issues and ways to calm an anxious heart. 

A Ripple Effect

Whether a condition is chronic or a recent discovery, any diagnosis can cause logical uncertainty. The admittance of the unknown to your everyday life prompts a plethora of stressors and a reevaluation of activities of daily living. Thus, it is vital to find outlets to guide your mental health. In the same study previously mentioned, it was found that 67% of people with daily mental struggles don’t share the emotional and psychological impacts of their condition. Their reasoning varied from avoiding unnecessary discussions, assuming lack of help if they shared, or the inability to discuss their feelings. This containment, in turn, causes more stress and leads patients down a path of continuous emotional inner turmoil. For instance, Dr. Barry Jacobs, a clinical psychologist and director of Behavioral Sciences at the Crozer-Keystone Family Medicine Residency Program in Springfield, PA, pointed out patients experiencing self-managed anxiety and depression can see a moment of déjà vu during recovery. “It’s not just that they want to smoke and eat,” Dr Jacobs explains, “They don’t have the energy to get out of bed and go to rehab and do the things they need to regain their physical health.” The same habits that may have increased risks for heart disease before can find their way back into a patient’s life. While research has not found association between heart disease and stress, there’s proof abundant stress prevails as a dangerous risk factor. Dr. Nieca Goldberg, medical director for the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health at NYU’s Langone Medical Center, explains how stress can “increase hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.” The overproduction of these chemicals can impact blood pressure and heart rate levels, lengthening the time of recovery and diluting health management efforts.

The Mind-Body Connection

Anxiety and depression come in many forms. For some, it may present itself with sweaty palms and shaky legs; for others, a persistent stomachache. Whatever the catalyst is, the body has an incredible way of sensing microscopic changes and adapting accordingly. For cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), veterans, women, and racial and ethnic minorities experience the most symptoms, largely due to genetic factors and outside stressors. In 2021, Yale’s School of Medicine concluded heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Scientists have hypothesized this could be due, in part, to overlapping genetic components or hormonal releases associated with depression. As such, postpartum depression was found to cause increased rates of heart attacks, strokes, and CVDs within five years of giving birth. Similarly, at the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, a rapid amplification of longstanding mental health challenges put the greatest amount of pressure on these minorities. Marginalized people handled disproportionate job loss and increased burdens to provide, accompanied with a backdrop of public health and safety insecurity. As a result, more women were hospitalized in 2020 and the preceding years with CVDs than ever before. As more and more research is done, scientists are approaching their studies with a focus on mind to body connections. Instead of relying strictly on what historical records show a patient has, a patient’s entire health is taken into account. Now, psychological health is bridging a gap with physical disparities and filling in key components–which were oftentimes missed by addressing physical symptoms alone.

Breaking the Stigma

Now that mental health is acknowledged in health care, how can an individual address their mental health at home? Today, we’ll summarize solutions into three basic categories: communication, activity, and acknowledgement. Communication encompasses all aspects of discussing your condition. Whether it’s with a healthcare specialist, or close friend, verbalizing emotions lessens the pressure of an everchanging condition. The more you share, the more comfortable you feel with your thoughts and condition. Activity encourages individuals to choose their paths. Patients can find comfort through static activities, such as physical exercise, hobbies, active choices in meal-prep, or by simply making the choice to seek help. Even though many heart conditions force a reroute of everyday life, an individual can find security and reinforced independence through unchanged habits. Some things will remain unaffected, and it is important to focus on these in times of uncertainty. Finally, caring for your mental health should have an end goal of acceptance and acknowledgement. Despite your condition or circumstance, you are more than your physical ailment. It is important to respect all your needs, from physical to mental, and allow yourself opportunities to heal and reflect.