Mental health improves overall physical health

Dr. Jonathan GoldfingerDidi Hirsch Mental Health Services, CEO of Southern California, told Healthline that the relationship between stress and heart health is not as simple as stress simply overworking the heart.

“Constant or chronic stress can be toxic, and this is where connections become more complex,” Goldfinger said.

“Researchers have found that chronic stress is through both uncontrolled inflammation (the immune system is weakened) and certain maladaptated behaviors that humans are likely to experience during stress, such as smoking, overeating, and overuse of alcohol and substances. I believe it contributes to the disease. Inflammation, “he added.

“The combination of these causes heart disease by damaging the walls of the small blood vessels that supply the heart with blood and the large blood vessels that carry the pumped blood to the brain and body,” Goldfinger said. I have.

Dr. James DotyA professor of neurosurgery at Stanford University, told Healthline that everyone has the ability to change not only their minds but also their bodies.

“We know how connections work, and it occurs in the brainstem and is connected to essentially all organs of the body, especially through the vagus nerve, which is represented by the heart. “Dotty said Author Into the Magic Shop: Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover Brain Mysteries and Heart Secrets

Doty explained that the vagus nerve is associated with the human fight-or-flight or reaction, rest, and digestive systems (among other functions he said the brain functions at its best).

“What people are unaware of is their ability to react to external events and therefore control over how their (autonomic nervous system) is involved,” he said. Said.

“In the last 20 to 30 years, we have learned a lot about the connection between mind and body, but in the last 10 years, new imaging tools and new ways to measure how the mind affects the body. So I learned a lot more. “Doty said. “More importantly, we are learning how to use our minds to train individuals to have a positive impact on the body, which reduces the incidence of many illnesses, especially chronic ones. Life will be longer. ”

Dr. Eric Rafra YuanA psychiatrist, a cardiovascular psychiatrist at the University of California, San Diego, told Healthline that the brain-heart connection is “two-way,” both capable of influencing the other.

He said the example is included Panic attack And “Broken heart syndrome” When someone hears the bad news, they suddenly develop heart failure.

“The brain and heart are connected by a network of nerves called the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems,” says Rafla-Yuan.

“The sympathetic nervous system is the accelerator pedal and the parasympathetic nervous system is the brake pedal. Many of the connections between the heart and brain are mediated by this system. Mental or can be taken to influence these. There is psychological behavior, “he explained.

“For example, yoga, tai chi, and other mindfulness practices can improve both cardiovascular and mental health. Mindfulness interventions can improve the psychological and physical aspects of anxiety and panic. It can help both symptoms, “he added.

Goldfinger said it is important to practice seven proven buffers of toxic stress:

• Healthy sleep habits
• Good nutrition
• Regular exercise
• Outdoor access
• Mindfulness or meditation
• Social interaction
• Mental health care

“Our mind and body are inseparable,” Goldfinger said. “Hope can heal cancer. Heart disease and depression generally occur together. The brain controls other organs such as the heart, adrenal gland, and stomach, and receives feedback from them. It’s also. You can control many physical functions by training your mind, which is one of the reasons we believe that mindfulness and meditation can prevent and heal the damage of toxic stress. . “

“People should focus on how stress is associated with heart health, and all the concrete changes that can be made to protect the heart today,” he added. ..