Your heartbeat tells a story. The connection between our hearts and emotions is not just poetic but grounded in research. Science reveals that love can lower blood pressure, stabilize heart rates, and help us recover from cardiac events. It also can create havoc when there’s too much stress. Understanding this strong connection’s positive and negative aspects can help us achieve optimum health.
“There is a really strong connection between our emotions and our physical heart health,” said Jennifer B. Hughes, PhD, a psychologist with UT Physicians Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic – BBSB. “When we’re stressed, scared, or sad, these are all going to impact our hearts.”
Emotions and stress can have a major impact on overall heart health, according to Hughes. It can show up as anxiety or irritability and increase heart rate. The brain’s emotional center, the limbic system, directly influences our physical well-being. It receives information from our environment and sends signals to our bodies about how to respond. These signals can affect our hearts in measurable ways. One key indicator is heart rate variability.
“We actually want to have a high amount of variability in our heart rate,” said Hughes, assistant professor in the Louis A. Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. “But when we’re stressed, our heart rate is going to be higher overall, which translates to less variability. That causes a lot of wear and tear on our heart.”
Understanding heart health
Strong, loving relationships help protect against heart attacks, said Brittany M. Owen, MD, a cardiologist with UT Physicians Multispecialty – Cinco Ranch. People can cope better and feel more resilient in times of stress, knowing they have someone always by their side.
On the other hand, our emotions can also negatively impact heart health. Broken heart syndrome, known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a real phenomenon. Owen said it rarely comes from a bad breakup. It’s more common in the most pure and genuine love, like that between a mother and child, during a time of severe emotional or physical stress.
“The stress hormones affect the heart to such a degree that the heart becomes weakened and mimics a heart attack,” said Owen, assistant professor of cardiology at McGovern Medical School. “While sometimes fatal, with medical help it can be treated and reversed.”
The role of support and connection
Recovery from emotional and physical heart challenges requires strong support systems.
When it comes to emotional heartbreak, the impact on physical health can be significant. Hughes said our brain experiences it as a loss.
“We don’t have a lot of systems and rituals set up to support people who are experiencing heartbreak and the loss and grief that is naturally occurring in the brain and body,” Hughes said. “This can leave people feeling alone and isolated when they’ve already experienced this heartbreak.”
People can also suffer from a different kind of broken heart syndrome after a heart attack, according to Owen. They can become depressed and feel afraid it’s going to happen again. Owen described the importance of patients surrounding themselves with those who love them and can help them get back on their feet.
“I remind my patients that I have healed their heart, and their hearts are better now,” Owen said. “I emphasize the importance of going to cardiac rehab to strengthen their hearts and regain their confidence.”
Healthy emotions equal healthy heart
Our emotional and physical hearts are closely linked. Nurturing both requires a holistic approach that includes strong social connections and professional support when needed.
“It’s not about never experiencing stress, sadness, anxiety, fear, or anger,” Hughes said. “The goal is not to be happy all the time but to be aware of and be open to the full range of human emotions.”
For those experiencing heart-related stress, Hughes provided these recommendations:
- Build supportive relationships.
- Engage in enjoyable activities.
- Seek professional support if needed. Therapy can be crucial in managing relationship-related stress and promoting heart health.
