Good relationships heal the heart

The authors emphasize that the partner often becomes a key figure in daily rehabilitation. Eating together, organizing physical activity, and monitoring medication intake form a stable environment in which it is easier for the patient to adhere to the recommendations. A cardiological event in such conditions affects not one person, but the whole couple, changing the usual lifestyle and redistributing responsibility for health.

For example, in Canada, one in twelve adults over the age of twenty has a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. In the European Union, these diseases account for about a third of all deaths, including a significant proportion of premature deaths. Against this background, most rehabilitation programs are still focused on the patient alone, almost without affecting the dynamics of close relationships.

The researchers note that the impact of joint programs on the emotional state and quality of relationships has so far been studied worse than their effect on physical performance. At the same time, the accumulated data indicate a close relationship between the psychological well-being of a couple and the ability to maintain healthy habits in the long term. The authors urge to pay more attention to these aspects, expanding the scope of standard cardiological care.

As a practical step, a step-by-step rehabilitation model is proposed, which includes screening for stress levels and tension in relationships, followed by referral to appropriate specialists. According to the researchers, this approach can strengthen not only the physical condition of patients, but also the stability of their social ties. Taking care of the heart in this context ceases to be a purely medical task and becomes part of a broader work with lifestyle and close relationships.