Did you know that mental health issues such as anxiety and depression can increase the risk of getting heart disease? These mental health conditions can also occur after a heart attack or heart surgery. With that in mind, we can conclude that there is a strong relationship between mental health and cardiac health. Now, if you want to learn more about their connection, continue reading below.

Mental Health Conditions Linked to Heart Disease

People often use mental health to describe conditions like anxiety and depression. However, mental health goes beyond that. It is a state of mental well-being that allows people to deal with stress, understand their abilities, learn and work well, etc.

As already noted, out of the many mental health conditions, anxiety and depression are most commonly linked to heart disease. So, let’s have a closer look at them.

Anxiety

In short, anxiety is a mental health condition characterized by feeling worried or stressed. Now you may think that it is normal to have worries or be stressed sometimes. But, for people with anxiety, these feelings occur for no reason and continue for a long time, i.e. they don’t go away after the stressful situation ends or the stressor is eliminated. As a result, these people struggle with everyday life.

Although anxiety symptoms vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder, common signs and symptoms include:

• Racing heart
• Tightening of the chest
• Difficulty breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Hot or cold flushes
• Panic attacks
• Extreme fear or catastrophizing
• Obsessive thinking
• Compulsive behavior

Unfortunately, heart disease is one of the many anxiety triggers, but with the right medical help, it can be successfully managed and treated.

Depression

Depression is a condition that harms both physical and mental health. It is much more than just a low mood. We all may be sad or moody from time to time. However, depressed people experience sadness and moodiness excessively and intensely, for weeks or months.

This mental health condition affects the sufferer in many ways, including their thoughts, feelings, and actions. Common depression signs and symptoms include:

• Absence of interest in activities that they once enjoyed
• Unwilling to spend time with family or friends
• Lack of concentration and productivity
• Poor decision-making and low confidence
• Increased alcohol consumption
• Loss or boost of appetite resulting in weight loss or gain
• Sleeping issues
• Increased moodiness, frustration, and irritability
• Feeling miserable, worthless, helpless, etc.
• Having negative thoughts

As with anxiety, heart disease can trigger depression, but luckily, there are effective treatments that can help in managing and treating the condition.

How to Look After Your Mental and Cardiac Health?

The first thing you should do to avoid mental health and cardiac health issues is to maintain positive social connections as they foster both our mental and physical health. Furthermore, you should implement healthy lifestyle changes which include:

• Getting the recommended amount of sleep
• Trying some relaxation techniques
• Reducing stress levels
• Being physically active daily
• Following a healthy diet
• Reducing alcohol consumption
• Quitting smoking

In addition, you should speak to your doctor and do regular checkups so that you can get the optimal treatment for your condition. And, last but not least, if you’re struggling with your mental health, knowing you aren’t alone is key. Therefore, seek support and stay connected.