What is the connection between mental health disorders and heart disease?
Welcome to Dr.'s Corner!
Every month I will be talking about mental health and its impact. I'll be sharing research, information and answering YOUR questions. I'll bring in expert guests to answer your questions too! Feel free to contact us if there are any questions
- Dr. Ingrid Herrera-Yee
Below is our first topic this month:
What is the connection between mental health disorders and heart disease?
Mental health is an important part of overall health and refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health involves how we think, feel, act, and make choices.
Mental health disorders can be short or long term and can really affect someone's mood, behavior, thinking, and ability to relate to others. Various studies have shown the impact of trauma, depression, anxiety, and stress on the body, including stress on the heart.
There is a lot of research out there that has connected mental health with risk factors for heart disease. These effects can arise both directly, through biological pathways, and indirectly, through risky health behaviors.
People experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, and even PTSD over a long period of time may experience certain effects on the body, such as increased cardiac reactivity (e.g., increased heart rate and blood pressure), reduced blood flow to the heart, and heightened levels of cortisol. Over time, these effects can lead to calcium buildup in the arteries, metabolic disease, and heart disease.
Evidence shows that mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD can develop after cardiac events, including heart failure, stroke, and heart attack. These disorders can be brought on after acute heart disease which can make certain factors including pain, fear of death or disability, and financial problems associated with the event much more present in the person's life.
Some literature notes the impact of medicines used to treat mental health disorders on cardiac disease risk. The use of some antipsychotic medications for example, has been associated with obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, heart attacks, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and death.
Mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression may increase the chance of adopting poor coping strategies such as smoking, inactive lifestyle, or failure to take prescribed medications because people experiencing a mental health disorder may have fewer healthy ways to cope with their stress. This makes it difficult for them to make healthy lifestyle choices to reduce their risk for heart disease.
What groups are at increased risk of heart disease?
Veterans. Studies found that veterans are at a higher risk for heart disease, mainly due to PTSD as a result of combat. (more to come on this topic in future Dr.'s corner)
Women. Studies exclusively focused on women found that PTSD and depression may have damaging effects on physical health, particularly with increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) related morbidity and mortality.
Couples with someone who has PTSD/Caregivers. Comparative studies found that couples where one or both partners had PTSD experienced more severe conflict, greater anger, and increased cardiovascular reactivity to conflict discussions than couples where neither partner had PTSD. Anger and physiological stress responses to couple discord might contribute to CHD and heart disease risk within these relationships.
Racial and ethnic minorities. Lastly, studies focused on racial or ethnic minority groups found that depression, stress, and anxiety due to disparities in social determinants of health, adverse childhood experiences (ACE), and racism/discrimination could place certain subpopulations at a higher risk for hypertension, cardiovascular reactivity, heart disease, and poor heart health outcomes.
What can be done for people with mental health disorders?
Addressing mental health disorders early by providing access to appropriate services and support to increase healthy behaviors (e.g., increased physical activity, improved diet quality, and reduced smoking) can reduce someone’s risk of experiencing a heart disease event.
Actions for Individuals
Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders and heart disease.
Talk with your health care professionals about potential heart conditions in relation to your mental health disorder and treatment options.
Know that your family history and genetic factors likely play some role in your risk for heart disease.
Know which conditions increase the risk of heart disease.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
(source: CDC)
