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AHA Scientific Statement on Mind–Heart–Body Connection

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Dr KK Aggarwal    30 January 2021

With input from Dr Monica Vasudev

1329:   AHA Scientific Statement on Mind–Heart–Body Connection

  1. Healthcare professionals should give due consideration to psychological health in adults with or at risk for cardiovascular disease, advises a new AHA scientific statement.
  2. The statement was published online January 25 in Circulation.
  3. The statement by AHA, Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind–Heart–Body Connection, has stated that psychological health can have a positive or negative influence on an individual’s health and risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
  4. The AHA had previously issued a scientific statement on depression and one on meditation. This one represents the first scientific statement that more broadly addresses psychological health.
  5. This was important to be done, especially now, considering the COVID crisis and the psychological stress people are experiencing for the past one year.
  6. Do not treat not only the disease; treat the patient as a whole.
  7. Depression, chronic stress, anxiety, anger, pessimism, and dissatisfaction are tied to deleterious biologic responses, such as irregular heart rate and rhythm; digestive disorders; raised blood pressure and inflammation; and decreased blood flow to the heart.
  8. Psychological health can potentially affect a patients heart health, just like diabetes or hypertension. Improving an individual’s psychological health will possibly result in reduced cardiac risk.
  9. The cumulative effect of daily stressors and exposure to traumatic events is also known to heighten the risk for CVD.
  10. It has been noted that patients self-reports of general and work-related stress are linked with about 40% greater risk of developing CVD or dying of it.
  11. There’s a predominance of studies that enable us to make conclusions about a link between negative psychological health and cardiovascular risk.
  12. Negative psychological health has an association with health behaviors known to heighten the risk for CVD, such as smoking, decreased physical activity, unhealthy diet, being overweight, and non-adherence to medications.
  13. Advice: Regular mental health evaluation for people with or at risk for CVD.
  14. Psychological therapy and mind–body programs can help with a better heart health.
  15. Programs that enhance psychological health include cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, collaborative care management, stress reduction therapy, and meditation.
  16. Studies suggest that positive psychological health, which includes happiness, gratitude, sense of purpose, life satisfaction, and mindfulness, is tied to a decreased risk for CVD and increased odds of beneficial health behaviors.
  17. These include smoking cessation, higher levels of physical activity, heart-healthy diet, increased medication adherence, regular check-ups and health evaluation.
  18. People with better mental health generally have positive social relationships, support, and connections, which help an individual better adapt to lifes challenges.

[Source: Medscape]

 

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA

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