Summary

Heart health and mental health are connected. The relationship between heart health and mental health is bidirectional. The American Heart Association states that the connection between heart health and mental health is important. The current tensions in our society are affecting our mental health and heart health. Remember, we can decide how to respond. Remember, we can walk away from anger and arguments. Remember, we can take someone else’s perspective to understand better how to deal with our interactions in society. Sometimes, all we need to do is to breathe. Call your elected officials and tell them how important it is for everyone to have health insurance coverage and for funding to continue for health research.

The Intersection of Heart Health and Mental Wellbeing

Our times are troubled and troubled times can lead to an increase in heart rate and an increase in blood pressure and an increase in inflammation, all of which reflect cardiovascular (heart) health. Our heart health is jeopardized by these troubled times. Our heart health and our mental wellbeing are linked. Let’s explore the intersection of heart health and mental wellbeing.

Cardiovascular Conditions and Mental Health Issues

In a recent article, Batya Swift Yasgur (2025) succinctly reviews the connections between heart health and mental health. Yasgur cites Donata Kurpas, MD, PhD, a presenter at the 2025 annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology, who characterized cardiovascular disease in persons with mental health conditions as being a “silent epidemic”.

Yasgur (2025) pursues the exploration of the intersection between heart and mind and the burgeoning literature on the topic. Social factors; economic variables; physiology; genetics; and lifestyle choices; are a few of the components which constitute the biological, genetic, behavioural, and psychological contributions to cardiovascular (heart) health. The biological contributions are complex, incorporating multiple body systems including the inflammatory and immune systems (why I mention inflammation), the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (implicated in stress response among other functions), the autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic) nervous system, heart rate variability controls, and even platelet (parts of red blood cells used for clotting blood) functioning.

We are a complex compilation of many systems with diverse and interconnected functions. Heart health is an example of the intersection of those systems. Heart health intersects with mental health.

And, this complexity is similar to the complexity of our communities, of society. The complex interactions among diverse parts allows for a beautiful mosaic of systems which work together for the greater good.

Diversity and complexity are inherent to the functioning of our bodies. Diversity and complexity are inherent to the healthy functioning of society.

American Heart Association Statement: Heart Health and Mental Wellbeing

The Medscape article by Yasgur (2025), entitled The Head and the Heart: Managing a ‘Silent Epidemic’, is replete with information about the intersection of mental health and heart health. Yasgur discusses the potential effects of psychotropic (psychiatric) medications on heart health; the impact of the healthcare system itself on heart health; the reduced life expectancy of persons with mental illness compared to the general public as a result of the burden of cardiovascular (heart) disease in this segment of our population; and the impact of sleep disorders on heart health.

We know that lifestyle choices (substance use, sleep habits) and social factors (working night shift) can also affect our heart health.

In 2021, the American Heart Association issued a scientific statement entitled Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind-Heart-Body Connection: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. The statement explores the scientific evidence for psychological health affecting heart health. The relationship is bidirectional.

Heart health, mental health. Individual health, community health. A cartesian approach no longer fits the situation. The intersections speak for themselves.

Employing Perspective for Heart Health and Mental Wellbeing

Imagine that you are arguing with someone. That person is yelling at you. Someone on the street whom you do not even know. You yell back and then those damn mirror neurons kick in and the yelling evolves into gesticulating aggressively at each other. Remember how that feels in your body.

Not a good feeling, right? Heart racing, blood vessels in your neck pulsing, tightness in your gut, tense muscles, perhaps nausea, clammy hands, flushed face, dry mouth, burning eyes.

Imagine the same scenario except this time you walk away from the person who is yelling. You take a moment to reflect on the situation. You take a few deep breaths. Suddenly, you can tolerate the feelings (surprise, fear, anger) without being consumed by the feelings.

Not so bad, eh?

That is the goal. Reminding yourself that it’s all going to be alright.

Just remember, you are not King George III. He thought he could subjugate his people: you and I both know that he failed miserably. Nor can you control anyone’s behaviour. You can only control your own behaviour. But you can influence other people by the use of mirror neurons and by the use of taking perspective. Consider their point of view before you lash out at them.

Recall my post entitled Both Sides Now for a Healthy World.

I always have a good laugh when I hear Jonathan Groff perform “You’ll Be Back”:

 

Put down the crown and accept your less than regal status. Don’t go in for the fight: step back and uncover an alternative way of engaging with the person in question. Or not. You can always decide not to go back.

I know that I will no longer go back for the fight. It’s simply not good for my mental wellbeing, for my heart health, or for the safety and wellbeing of my community.

Take-Aways: Cardiovascular Disease and Mental Wellbeing

Learn about the symptoms of stroke, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular events. Attend a course through the American Heart Association to learn more: https://elearning.heart.org/courses

Make learning fun. Check out the resources at HipHop Public Health: https://www.hhph.org/work/learning-studio and https://www.hhph.org/work/learning-studio/hip-hop-stroke

Remember to breathe. Deep breathing and singing which requires breath control can help you reduce anxiety by taming your sympathetic nervous system: https://www.utoledo.edu/studentaffairs/counseling/anxietytoolbox/breathingandrelaxation.html

Connect socially to fuel your heart with good vibes, you know, the social connectedness which warms your heart. Remember my many remarks about social connection as social capital, to link individuals with a community to protect and ensure the safety of the community- and, as we know, the health and safety of the individual. A win-win situation.

Ask what you can do to help others. Generosity is good for others and for the health of the generous person.

Call your federally elected officials and remind them how important it is to fund health insurance for everyone (a human right) and to fund research:

202.224.3121

Of course, music to inspire us.

“Breathe” from In The Heights performed by Leslie Grace (featuring Rubén Blades and Doreen Montalvo

“You Can’t Lose a Broken Heart” performed by k.d.lang and Tony Bennett

“I Am Not Okay” by Home Free

 

Be well. Be safe. Stand tall. Be kind to everyone, even when they yell obscenities at you: your autonomic nervous system will thank you- and so will your heart.

 

 

Selected References:

HipHop Health Public (2025). Stroke Ain’t No Joke Toolkit. Accessed online on June 13, 2025, at https://www.hhph.org/toolkit/hip-hop-stroke-1/3-5

Levine, G.N., et al (25 January 2021). Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind-Heart-Body Connection: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation, Volume 145, Number 10. Accessed online on June 14, 2025, at https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000947

McCrary, J.M., and Altenmüller, E. (26 August 2021). Mechanisms of Music Impact: Autonomic Tone and the Physical Activity Roadmap to Advancing Understanding and Evidence-Based Policy. Frontiers in Psychology, Volume 12. Accessed online on June 13, 2025, at https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.727231/full

Swift Yasgur, B. (June 6, 2025). The Head and the Heart: Managing a ‘Silent Epidemic’. Medscape Medical News. Accessed online on June 8, 2025, at https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/head-and-heart-managing-silent-epidemic-2025a1000f9y?ecd=wnl_tp10_daily_250608_MSCPEDIT_etid7479572&uac=5131MN&impID=7479572

 

 

Disclaimer: This post is not meant to substitute for a consultation with your mental health professional team.

 

If you are having thoughts to hurt yourself or someone else, please CALL 9-1-1; CALL 9-8-8; or GO TO the nearest EMERGENCY ROOM.

 

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