Do Psychological Factors Influence Risk Of Heart Disease?
Do Psychological Factors Influence Risk Of Heart Disease?
Introduction
People with depression, high stress and other psychosocial conditions are 2.5 times at risk of a heart attack than those without the conditions. Another important point to bear in mind is that psychological factors can influence mortality and morbidity in patients with coronary heart disease. Let’s take a deeper look at these factors that increase risks significantly.
Does depression cause heart attack?
Depression can contribute to risk of heart disease but it is incorrect to assume that depression can cause heart attacks. Here is how these psychological factors can affect your risk of heart disease.
Impact on various biological actions in the body
- Depression is known to cause or increase the possibility of inflammation in the body. This is identified as a contributing factor in developing and aggravating atherosclerosis. This refers to a condition where the arteries narrow down and harden, affecting flow of blood to the heart.
- Another effect of depression is the disruption of the balance of the autonomic nervous system. This has an impact on heart rate variability and the regulation of blood pressure posing problems to the cardiovascular system.
- An increase in the activation and collection of platelets, is also linked to depression, and this causes formation of blood clots. As a result, the risk of heart attacks and strokes increases considerably.
Impact on behavior and lifestyle of people
- A fallout of depression and other psychological factors is that people may end up with poor or unhealthy behavior and lifestyle. This includes a poor diet, lack of physical activity, and indulgences like smoking and alcohol consumption. These are all risk factors that contribute to possibility of heart diseases.
- Poor medication intake schedule is another effect of depression. People with depression and with other existing health conditions, are likely to skip medication schedule. This can expose the person to risks through poor management of health conditions.
- Chronic stress typically follows depression, and this results in increased production of stress hormones. These hormones – cortisol and adrenaline, are known to contribute to cardiovascular risk.
- Social withdrawal and isolation are also possible outcomes of depression. These feelings of loneliness and perceived absence of social circles, are linked to an increased risk of heart conditions.
Common risks of heart disease
- Depression and other psychological factors have the unenviable reputation of sharing certain risks with heart disease. For example, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high levels of lipids are common to depression and heart disease.
- People with depression may also be genetically predisposed to heart disease. While this is not the rule, there is a possibility and this, therefore, puts people with depression, high at risk.
How stress causes heart attack?
Stress is known to directly or indirectly contribute to the risk of heart attack. This is through various physiological reactions and changes in behavior. Here is a look at psychological factors like stress that affect or increase your risk of heart attack.
Indirect effects on heart functions
Hormones
- Stress is known to trigger hormonal reactions, such as release of cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are known to increase heart rate, blood pressure levels, and blood sugar levels. The release of these hormones are basically the body’s mechanism to fight certain actions. If you are exposed to these stress hormones for a long time, you can end up with high blood pressure. This can become a significant risk of heart attack.
Inflammation
- Chronic inflammation is another possible outcome of stress, and this could lead to developing atherosclerosis. This could clog the arteries and expose you to risk of heart attacks. Another possible outcome is that inflammation increase the likelihood of rupturing plaques. This could result in the formation of blood clots, which can, in turn block arteries, causing heart attacks.
Blood Clotting
- Stress is known to trigger an increase in platelet formation. As a result, your blood is more at risk of clotting, and may result in possible heart attacks.
Poor lifestyle
- Stress and psychological factors can make you more inclined to smoke and this is a huge risk factor for heart disease. Likewise, stress is known to cause unhealthy eating habits. This could be consumption of high-fat, high-sugar foods, resulting in obesity, high cholesterol levels, and diabetes. These are all factors that increase risk of heart attacks.
- Stress demotivates people, and as a result there could an absence of physical activity. This results in increased risks of heart disease.
Lack of adequate sleep
- Stress is known to cause insomnia or affect the quality of sleep. This can, in turn, increase blood pressure levels, exposing you to risk of heart disease. Stress is known to aggravate conditions such as sleep apnea, and this could increase risk of cardiovascular events.
Direct effects on heart function
Increased heart rate
- Stress is known to cause a high heart rate and this increases the workload on the heart. This can affect oxygen and blood flow to the heart resulting in a heart attack.
Blood vessels
- The release of adrenaline during stress results in the constriction of blood vessels, increasing blood pressure levels and negatively affecting blood flow to the heart.
Acute stress
- Severe and intense stress due to conditions like a natural disaster, or certain emotional events can cause a heart attack. Even sudden or intense physical exertion is known to be a possible risk of heart attack in people with underlying heart conditions.
- Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is a condition that is similar to that of a heart attack. This is caused by extreme stress, and results in a temporary weakness of the heart muscles.
Psychological factors increase the risk of heart attacks, and this is because of a combination of various factors. Multiple physiological and behavioral reactions are responsible for this heightened risk. It is possible to manage stress through certain lifestyle modifications and reduce the impact and risk of heart attacks.
Advanced genetic testing facilities are presently available in Tamil Nadu to help uncover risks of heart attack and predisposition to blood pressure. Simple tests help to understand the genetic angle to risks of these health conditions. If you are in doubt, or if any family member has a history of these conditions, it is advisable to undergo testing and, 1wherever required, take remedial measures to mitigate risks.
Medically Reviewed by
Dr.Rajasekar Cardiologist
Dr. Rajasekar is a cardiologist in Chennai, with extensive experience in the field. He completed his MBBS from Madurai Kamaraj University, followed by an MD in General Medicine and a DM in Cardiology from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University (TNMGRMU).
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Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) from the University of Delhi Experience : Dr. Srinivasan is an experienced pharmacist with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Delhi and over 12 years in the field. She has worked extensively in clinical and community pharmacy settings, focusing on patient care, medication management, and drug safety. Dr. Srinivasan also contributes to health and wellness publications and serves as a consultant for pharmaceutical companies and healthcare organizations. Her expertise spans clinical practice, pharmaceutical writing, and regulatory affairs.