Shoo, stress: doctor explains how emotions affect heart health

The heart is a central piece of our life, both from a biological and emotional point of view. Cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke, can be linked to extreme emotional states and psychiatric disorders.

A recently published study found that anger can impact the health of blood vessels, making them tighter and facilitating the onset of heart disease.

Stress is considered an important secondary factor in the emergence of chronic heart conditions such as atherosclerosis and high blood pressure, alongside cigarette use and a sedentary lifestyle. Other studies have already indicated that depression and anxiety can have a strong impact on heart health, increasing the chances of developing illnesses.

According to cardiologist at Hospital Brasília and vice-president of the Academy of Medicine of Brasília Nasser Sarkis, science has recently consolidated data that show the relationship between mental health and the heart.

“We have observed that daily hostility, anguish and depression greatly increase the risk of heart disease, in some cases, up to twice as much. When someone has already had a heart attack and is depressed, for example, we know that the chance of having a heart attack again is four times greater”, says Sarkis.

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According to the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC), cardiovascular diseases are some of the main causes of deaths in Brazil. According to the institution, the majority of deaths could be avoided or postponed with preventive care and therapeutic measures.
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For BCS, prevention and adequate treatment of risk factors and heart diseases may be enough to reverse serious conditions. To do this, you need to know how to identify the main symptoms of cardiovascular problems and treat them if you experience any of them.
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Among the cardiovascular diseases that cause the most deaths, cerebrovascular accident (CVA) stands out. It is caused by the presence of fatty plaques that clog the brain blood vessels. Symptoms include: difficulty speaking, dizziness, difficulty swallowing, weakness on one side of the body, among others.
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Illustrative image of person with chest pain
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Cardiomyopathy is another serious disease that affects the heart. The disease, which leaves the heart muscle inflamed and swollen, can weaken the heart to the point that a transplant may be necessary. Symptoms of the disease include: frequent weakness, swelling and fatigue
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Myocardial infarction occurs when blood flow in the myocardial muscle is interrupted for a long period. The absence of blood in the region can cause serious problems and even tissue death. Obesity, smoking, high cholesterol and genetic tendency can cause the disease. Symptoms include: chest pain that lasts 20 minutes, tingling in the arm, burning in the chest, etc.
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One of the most common and serious heart diseases is heart failure. It is characterized by the heart’s inability to pump blood to the body. The illness causes fatigue, difficulty breathing, weakness, etc. Among the main causes of the disease are: infections, diabetes, unhealthy habits, etc.
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Peripheral arterial disease, like most heart diseases, is caused by the formation of fatty plaques and other substances in the arteries that carry blood to the lower limbs of the body, such as the feet and legs. High cholesterol and smoking contribute to the problem. Symptoms include: wounds that do not heal, erectile dysfunction and swelling on the body
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Caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses from other parts of the body that migrate to the heart and infect the endocardium, endocarditis is a disease that can cause chills, fever and fatigue. Treatment of the disease will depend on the patient’s condition and, sometimes, surgery may be indicated.
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Caused due to inflammation of other cardiac muscles, myocarditis can cause weakening of the heart, abnormal heart rate and sudden death. Chest pain, shortness of breath and abnormal heartbeat are some of the main symptoms
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In addition to the common symptoms of each cardiovascular disease, excessive tiredness for no apparent reason, nausea or loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, swelling, chills, dizziness, fainting, tachycardia and persistent cough can be signs of heart problems.
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According to the Cardiovascular Prevention Guidebook of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC), despite some specific cases, it is possible to prevent heart problems by maintaining good eating habits, practicing physical exercise and taking care of your mind.
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The physical impact of emotions on the heart

The correlation occurs from the so-called psychosomatic processes, in which mental health leads to manifestations of physical symptoms. Stress and depression cause changes in hormone flows, heart pumping speed and even the thickness of blood vessels.

Furthermore, misaligned emotions can lead to a systemic and permanent inflammatory response. “This inflammation affects the body in general, but to a low degree. Still, it is capable of affecting the body’s blood vessels, predominantly in the heart and brain, which facilitates their eventual ruptures”, points out the cardiologist.

Even short episodes of very intense emotions can lead to serious cases of heart disease, such as Takotisubo, broken heart syndrome, in which stress after traumatic episodes causes the heart to enlarge and its muscles to harden. In general, however, damage tends to appear over time as a result of long-term exposure to misaligned emotions.

“The most damaging thing is that the imbalance becomes frequent. Exposure is a fundamental factor in triggering and increasing the prevalence of heart attacks and strokes”, summarizes the doctor.

The cardiologist, however, highlights that in this scenario of harmful relationships between mental and physical health, there is a benefit: treatment for one of them ends up affecting the other.

He highlights that some of the best lifestyle habits that protect heart health are also key players in treating mental health conditions and well-being. “Giving preference to a diet with natural and minimally processed foods, not smoking and regular physical exercise help in both scenarios, protecting the heart and also helping people to deal with emotions and control states of depression and anxiety”, he advises. the doctor.

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