Khaberni - The expression "heartbreak" has long been used to describe severe psychological pain resulting from anxiety, trauma, or depression, but recent scientific studies suggest that this expression might not be entirely metaphorical; it has a real biological basis that can be medically detected.
A wide-ranging research review, including data from more than 22 million people worldwide, revealed a link between certain mental health disorders and an increased risk of heart attacks and cardiac emergencies resulting from reduced blood flow to the heart.
The study, led by researchers from the University of Calgary in Canada and published in the JAMA Psychiatry journal, analyzed previous research results to assess the relationship between clinically diagnosed mental disorders and the occurrence of what is known as "acute coronary syndrome", a medical term that includes heart attacks and severe chest pain.
According to the results, several psychological conditions were linked with a marked increase in cardiac risk, notably: anxiety disorders were associated with an increased likelihood of heart attacks, depression was linked to an elevated risk of acute coronary syndrome, in addition to post-traumatic stress disorder which recorded the highest levels of relative risk among the conditions included in the study, as well as sleep disorders, which were shown to influence heart health and may act as a mediator between psychological stress and artery diseases.
The researchers noted that chronic sleep disorders could contribute to a dysregulation of blood sugar levels, increased inflammation, and oxidative stress, all known factors that negatively affect heart health.
Why does psychological stress affect the heart?
The team clarified that mental disorders do not operate in isolation, but often intertwine with traditional cardiac risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, lipid disorders, and metabolic syndrome.
Chronic stress could lead to sustained increases in stress hormones and enhanced inflammatory responses in the body, which could accelerate vascular damage and increase the susceptibility to heart attacks.
Despite the extensive data size, the researchers emphasized that the strength of the evidence ranged from low to moderate, and some associations need further studies for more precise confirmation, affirming that the results do not mean that everyone with a mental disorder will develop heart disease. However, the study reinforces the idea that caring for mental health is not just a luxury, but an essential part of preventing heart disease.
The study concludes that "heartbreak" might be more than just a literary expression, as evidence suggests that untreated chronic psychological pain may indeed have a real impact on heart health.
The researchers believe that integrating psychological support with traditional medical care could be an important step towards reducing the global burden of heart disease in a world where psychological pressures are increasing at an unprecedented rate.
