(NaturalPath) New research emerging from the Cleveland Heart Lab is showing a medical link between sadness, depression, anxiety, and heart attacks.
What is interesting is that depression is proving to be a higher risk factor for heart attacks than smoking is. The connection may be with one major neurotransmitter serotonin. When serotonin is low there is a negative effect on vascular health, and vascular dysfunction and damage can occur. These low serotonin levels can occur with depression and mood disorders. This endothelial dysfunction eventually can lead to calcification and thus increase the risk for heart attacks and cardiac events.
This study is proving the importance of a holistic approach when tackling health concerns. It is important to validate and improve one’s mental health in order to improve overall health outcomes, especially in regards to cardiovascular health.
http://aanmc.org/news/can-broken-heart-kill-understanding-link-between-depression-heart-disease/
Razi Berry, Founder and Publisher of Naturopathic Doctor News & Review (ndnr.com) and NaturalPath (thenatpath.com), has spent the last decade as a natural medicine advocate and marketing whiz. She has galvanized and supported the naturopathic community, bringing a higher quality of healthcare to millions of North Americans through her publications. A self-proclaimed health-food junkie and mother of two; she loves all things nature, is obsessed with organic gardening, growing fruit trees (not easy in Phoenix), laughing until she snorts, and homeschooling. She is a little bit crunchy and yes, that is her real name.
