New Delhi: Last week, a neighbor experienced a significant financial loss, leading to a heart attack just two days later. What is the underlying cause? Is it stress, heart problems, or both? It brings up the important issue of the relationship between mental and heart health. Long-term emotional stress has the potential to activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis leading to excessive catecholamine production, and an increase of blood pressure as well as heart rate. Prolonged and chronic stress can cause injury to the endothelial cells making the blood vessels susceptible to cardiovascular attacks.
Dr. Kanishka Meel, Psychiatrist and Consultant on Practo, while talking about the same, detailed the intricate link between the two.
“A groundbreaking research study published in the American College of Cardiology revealed myocardial infarction and a broad spectrum of cardiovascular disorders among young working individuals exposed to high levels of occupational stress. It was noted that mood disturbance is usually accompanied by binge eating and physical inactivity in those at high risk for cardiovascular disease,” said Dr Neel.
There is substantive evidence that supports the view that patients diagnosed with depressive disorders, and most particularly major depressive and generalised anxiety disorders are more susceptible to atherosclerosis and adverse heart events. These conditions are exacerbated by the presence of systemic inflammatory diseases and imbalances of the autonomic nervous system which make matters worse related to cardiovascular functioning.
To prevent these problems, it is important to include a multidisciplinary approach in routine cardiac procedures. This can include psychological interventions like Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT), pharmacological treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and behavior modification concentrating on stress reduction measures like mindfulness and relaxation exercises.
In the end, there is a need to say that the management of mental health disorders is necessary for comprehensive cardiovascular care. With a biopsychosocial model that incorporates mental health into cardiology, healthcare professionals can assist in improving ventricular and psychological health, thereby achieving heart health when mental wellness comes first.
Long-term emotional stress has the potential to activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis leading to excessive catecholamine production, and an increase of blood pressure as well as heart rate. Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
