Emotional experiences and the health of our hearts

Question

Based on the relationship between our emotional and physiological states, what do you think about the claims that our emotions can literally change the shape and function of our hearts?

Given the purported relationship between our emotional health and the physical health of our cardiovascular system, what types of things (aside from diet and exercise) might you consider doing differently in your life to help promote better emotional and physical health?

Answer 1

Hi Khanh,

This is certainly an interesting topic! And it is true that there is definitely an impact that our emotional/psychological state has on our physiology.

Our body responds to emotions through the Autonomic Nervous System, which is part of the Peripheral Nervous System and has a direct impact on the way our body reacts and functions. The Autonomic Nervous System has two distinct systems that it controls, namely the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems. It is these two systems that have to do with physiological responses to emotion.

The Sympathetic Nervous System is responsible for fight-or-flight, and becomes active when stressors are being put on the body or on the mind. Have you ever noticed that if you procrastinate often and have to rush to cram before a test, all of a sudden you get more motivation? The thought of failing acts as a stressor, so your sympathetic nervous system kicks in. When your sympathetic nervous system is active, your heart starts pumping more blood to deliver more oxygen to your cells and tissues. There are plenty of other effects too, like your pupils dilating, your lungs expand to get more oxygen, or your palms might get sweaty. All of your energy is put into fight-or-flight because your body can't differentiate between the stress you get from exam cramming and say, the stress you'd get if you were in peril danger. This burst of energy can give you more motivation and strength in the short-term.

The Parasympathetic Nervous System is known for rest-and-digest, and becomes active when you're calm and relaxed. Your heart doesn't need to beat at fast because there isn't an increased need for oxygen. Instead, your body uses more of its energy to digest and eliminate food. You might feel this way after eating a meal, but also during meditation or after exercise.

Over time, if the sympathetic nervous system is constantly active more than normal, it can wear down the heart. This is a great system for when you need a burst of energy over a short period of time. However, consistent feeling of danger, grief, anxiety, and any other prolonged stressor can put pressure on your body and especially on your heart. Conditions like heart disease can occur, arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), shortness of breath, and eventually heart failure. The actual heart can change shape because of this too.

With so many stressors in our daily lives, healthy diet and exercise are extremely important for many reasons besides just those mentioned here. However, you can also improve or maintain your health by practicing mindfulness, meditation, and other finding ways to support emotional and psychological health.