New Delhi: Most common factors that impact the health of our heart include diet that we consume and the level of physical activity we engage in. What is often overlooked in this aspect is the impact of social and emotional characteristics on the heart’s health. Factors namely stress, anxiety, worry, social isolation play a major role in impacting your cardiovascular health, being potent cardiovascular risk factors.
In an interaction with News9Live, Dr. Harish Bhatia, Founder Director of Rebreathe Clinic, Senior Consultant Chest Specialist & Physician with Apollo Hospital, explained how emotional and social factors can affect the heart.
Impact of social and emotional factors on heart health
Just like smoking and drinking alcohol affect heart health, likewise is the impact of social factors such as social isolation or absence of social support. These factors increase the likelihood of emotional eating, making the individuals consume rich, high-fat, sugary, and processed foods. This increases the chance of diabetes, dyslipidemia, or weight gain, a highly potential risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Signs of depression or feelings of loneliness also decrease the chance of engagement in physical activity, thus adding to the risk of heart ailments.
- The feeling of loneliness: The risk of heart disease rises by 29 percent if the individual feels lonely as the feeling of loneliness is linked with high stress levels and also increases the chances of unhealthy coping strategies such as overeating, smoking, or drinking alcohol.
- Work stress: Working in an atmosphere that is full of stress and pressure enhances the chance of hypertension and heart attacks due to poor quality sleep and impact on mental health.
- Lack of social support: Those individuals who have strong and positive social ties show healthy behaviour such as regular exercise, a wholesome diet, and focus more on their health. But in the absence of social support, individuals don’t prioritise their health and remain pessimistic about their life.
The overlap between cardiovascular and pulmonary health
There is a strong connection between lung and heart health. Conditions of chronic stress increase the likelihood of respiratory ailments such as asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), thus increasing the pressure on the heart. Another respiratory condition, sleep apnea, is linked with cardiovascular damage by leading to high blood pressure or irregular heartbeat. Thus, both emotional and social factors also need to be addressed in detail to improve the markers of heart disease. This can be achieved by prioritizing mental health as important as physical health.
Practice mindfulness meditation, engage in deep breathing or if you find coping hard, seek a psychiatrist’s help and get therapy aid such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Be socially connected with your friends and family by participating in group events or regular communications. Keep your diet healthy inclusive of heart-friendly foods and never skip your exercise. Refrain from harmful habits such as smoking alcohol drinking or any sort of substance abuse.
Conclusion
Heart health is more than a matter of controlling cholesterol and blood pressure. Emotional and social factors such as stress, anxiety, depression, and isolation can significantly affect cardiovascular health. Addressing these elements is not just beneficial for the heart but also for the overall quality of life.
Mental health is an important factor in overall wellbeing, including heart health. Find out how meditation can be just as effective as cardio workouts. Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
