As if feeling bad werent enough, negative emotions could be harming your heart. Over time, persistent blues, anxiety or anger can increase the risk of heart diseaseor make an existing condition worse. Psychosocial factors are increasingly recognized as important predictors of heart disease, says Richard Stein, M.D., director of preventive cardiology at the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York and author of “Outliving Heart Disease.” Depression is right up there with high cholesterol, smoking and high blood pressure as risk factors for heart attack. Hostility and anxiety, says Dr. Stein, arent far behind.
The Mood-Heart Link
On one level, its as simple as taking care of yourself: People who are depressed, angry, anxious or highly stressed are less likely to eat healthfully, exercise regularly, quit smoking or take their medication as directed. But negative thoughts and feelings may also harm the heart more directly. Depression and anxiety disorders can alter heart rhythms, raise blood pressure and increase blood-clotting factors.
Meanwhile, the stress hormones norepinephrine, epinephrine and cortisoloften released in abundance when people are...
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