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Psychosocial Factors Influence Heart Disease
Emotion and mood management can improve cardiac health among heart patients, according to findings published within the Harvard Heart Letter. Depression, stress, loneliness, and a negative outlook can contribute to heart attacks just as much as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and cholesterol problems. Researchers cannot offer concrete reasons why this mind-heart connection exists, but many have theories.
Potential explanations include stress hormones, which constrict blood vessels, speed up the heart beat, and make the heart and blood vessels especially reactive to further stress. Psychosocial factors can also trigger inflammation, which clogs arteries. Psychosocial factors also make people more likely to pick up other risky habits such as smoking.
Doctors may need additional training in psychosocial factors as this mind-heart connection is better understood. Many do not have mental health training and are not as comfortable discussing psychosocial issues with patients.
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