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The Hidden Connection Between Mental Health and Heart Health

We have all at some point grabbed that slice of cake or mithai or chocolate or something sweet when feeling low or lonely, haven’t we?

But one of my Ayurvedic teachers once told us that around Valentine’s Day, the sales of chocolates skyrocket amongst single women in New York City.

Valentine’s Day can be stressful for many people because of the pressure to meet societal expectations and the pressure to “make the day special.” This can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and social isolation.

Think about it: you could be in a relationship and feel unfulfilled. We all know people who are happy couples only on social media. And for individuals in healthy relationships, the pressure to meet romantic ideals and expectations can lead to stress and anxiety.

Valentine’s Day magnifies unreasonable expectations about love. For those who are single—due to societal emphasis on coupledom—comparisons, isolation, and self-doubt can make you feel low.

For those grieving a loss, experiencing a recent breakup, or dealing with chronic mental health conditions, Valentine’s Day can exacerbate depressive symptoms. The contrast between societal celebrations and personal struggles can deepen feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

There’s plenty of research and articles that tell us that Valentine’s Day can take a toll on our mental well-being. But did you know that mental health and heart health are closely interconnected, with mental health conditions significantly impacting cardiovascular well-being? Mental health conditions like anxiety and depression can increase the risk of heart disease. Feeling lonely or being socially isolated can also affect your heart health. [1]

Anxiety disorders affect as many as 40 percent to 70 percent of coronary heart disease patients. Also, about 17 percent to 44 percent of those patients have depression—three times more than people with healthy hearts. Across the board, mental health conditions dramatically drive up the risk of cardiovascular illness, related complications and death. [2]

 How mental health can affect your heart:

Stress:

Chronic stress can cause inflammation, which can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries. Prolonged stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Stress can also increase your blood pressure and heart rate. Over time, this can damage blood vessels, promote inflammation, and contribute to hypertension—a major risk factor for heart disease. A study in The Lancet showed that people who reported high stress, a history of depression, and other psychosocial factors were 2.5 times more likely to have a heart attack than those who had low stress or no history of depression. [3]

Depression:

Depression can increase your risk of heart disease, and people with heart disease can also experience depression. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, “An impressive body of evidence showing that, compared with people without depression, adults with a depressive disorder or symptoms have a 64 percent greater risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD); and depressed CAD patients are 59 percent more likely to have a future adverse cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or cardiac death.” [4] A lot more needs to be studied about the why of the pathways; researchers tell us that this could be because of the dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system or the adherence to inappropriate diet and lifestyle or elevated markers of inflammation or many other reasons.

Anxiety:

Research has shown that anxiety disorders and heart disease can both cause the other to develop. If you have an anxiety disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you are 26 percent more likely to develop heart disease—especially coronary artery disease and heart failure. [5] Anxiety is common in patients with other forms of heart disease as well. But anxiety can also lead to heart arrhythmias, sudden rise in blood pressure, heart palpitations, platelet dysfunction, and much more.

Social isolation:

Feeling lonely or socially isolated can affect your heart health. Strong social connections are protective for both mental and heart health. If you are feeling low or alone this Valentine’s Day or even otherwise, seek help. Reach out to friends and family and redefine love. In our home, we invite people who are alone for Valentine’s Day dinner. Broken Heart is real! I personally know of four couples where the widowed partner was so depressed after their partner’s demise that they died within months (in one case, within two weeks of each other).

The study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that young adults who self-reported feeling depressed or having poor mental health days had higher rates of heart attacks, strokes, and risk factors for heart disease compared with their peers without mental health issues.

Given that February is Heart Health Awareness Month, and knowing that feeling down and low not only impacts our mood but also our heart health, it’s important for every individual to take ownership of their heart health.

Don’t let Valentine’s Day or any other day or person hurt your mind or heart.

“Self-care is how you take your power back.” ~ Lalah Delia

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