The heart turned out to be closely connected with our thoughts and feelings

Each heartbeat is not only the movement of blood through the body, but also a signal to our mind. Scientists have noticed that the psyche and the work of the cardiovascular system are so closely connected that sometimes one cannot be considered without the other. There are many explanations for this connection. On the one hand, the very fact of a severe diagnosis can cause negative emotions and trigger the development of mental illness. On the other hand, pre—existing psychological difficulties often push a person to an unhealthy lifestyle, which increases the risk of cardiovascular ailments.

The approach is based on the idea of a unified state of the brain and body. Every physical change, whether it’s a heartbeat, a blood pressure spike, or a shift in metabolism, is immediately accompanied by a psychological response. It turns out that the body and mind are inextricably linked and act as a single system.

These conditions manifest themselves in different ways. There are short reactions that can be compared to a spark — these are flashes of joy or anger. There are longer-lasting conditions, such as acute or chronic stress. And there are long-term changes, when physical and mental illnesses form a single field that affects the entire body.

According to Arno Willinger from the Max Planck Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, mental illness always includes a cardiovascular component, even if it is not yet clinically manifested. Conversely, heart diseases often hide their psychological roots. According to the expert, this connection is similar to an iceberg: only a small part is visible on the surface, while the main part remains in the depths.

This view is changing the approach to medicine. Doctors are increasingly emphasizing that for prevention and treatment it is necessary to take into account both sides — mental and cardiovascular. Even if the problems initially appear only in one area, the second cannot be ignored.

Interestingly, it’s not just the heart that’s connected to the psyche. Other body systems also play an important role, especially the immune system, which also constantly interacts with the brain. Therefore, modern concepts are gradually expanding, combining body and mind into a single picture. This helps to understand that health cannot be divided into parts — it is literally a dialogue between the body and the inner state of a person.