Psychiatrist: Mental Health Affects the Heart

Psychiatrist Liat Jarkon, D.O., director of the Center for Behavioral Health, appears on a News12 segment about the link between mental health and cardiovascular health. According to Jarkon, conditions like chronic anxiety and depression can cause elevated cortisol (stress) levels, increased blood pressure, and inflammation, which negatively affect valves and blood vessels. For those who notice prolonged feelings of poor mental health, she recommends speaking to a primary care physician who may refer patients to a cardiologist and psychiatrist for efficient treatment.

“Poor mental health has been identified as a significant risk factor for heart disease,” she says. “If you want to get better, you need to adopt better healthy habits like healthy eating, sleeping, and more exercise.”