Having anxiety or other chronic mental health disorders is now an established independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death globally.
To now add mental health disorders is a paradigm shift, says UK cardiologist Dr Boon Lim.
Depression and anxiety, often stress-induced, are linked to a 30 to 50 per cent higher incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events, Lim says, “and stress-related disorders such as PTSD show particularly strong associations with early myocardial infarction, arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death”.
Managing stress is key to heart health, Lim says. Unchecked, it can lead to physical inactivity, poor diet, disrupted sleep and low medication adherence – all factors that increase inflammation that can trigger heart problems.
Stress, and other forms of mental ill health, increase the production of cortisol and catecholamines – hormones and neurotransmitters that include adrenaline. These play a role in the body’s “fight or flight” response and are elevated when the body is under pressure. They can cause heart rate and blood pressure to rise.