How Is Stress Impacting Our Heart Health?

Over the years, the link between heart disease and emotional stress has been discussed. The link is clear, but experts had no idea of exactly how those two conditions are linked. A recent study, originally published in the Lancet, has provided new insight regarding brain activity within the amygdala and heart disease. We are all walking around with two of these amygdalae — which means “almonds” in latin, so called because they resemble almonds in shape and size. They are in deep inside the brain on both sides more or less where your ear sits and they process emotions, particularly stress and fear. The study conducted in the Lancet checked if a lot of activity in the amygdala can predict the risk of heart disease. The authors recruited 293 participants with an average age of 55. They were all healthy at the start of the study. The researchers followed them up over more than 3 and a half years and scanned their brain to look at the activity in their amygdalae. They also recorded spleen activity and other things that are linked with inflammation of their blood vessels. During the 3.5 of the study, 22 participants had a “cardiovascular disease event” — a heart or blood vessel problem of some description. All 22 participants who experienced a cardiovascular event were shown to have an overactive amygdala compared to those who did not have any heart or circulation problems. According to the researchers excessive activity in the amygdala affects ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Panic Brain and Behavior Mental Health and Wellness Research Stress Amygdala Stress Hormones Source Type: blogs