Mechanisms linking Mental Health Problems and Cardiac Disease: A Review

Psychological problems play a critical role in development of cardiovascular disease. Several mechanisms were suggested to explain theassociation and mechanism of this effect, recently. Knowledge of the mechanisms mediating the association between psychological status andheart disease could help in developing treatments. The effects of mind and mood on the cardiovascular system can be due to behavior related(indirect) mechanisms. In fact, mental problems can lead to some behavioral changes which are associated with cardiovascular disease. On theother hand, it can effect on the cardiovascular system directly by elevating stress hormone levels, heartbeat and blood vessels constriction.Therefore, in this review, majority of mechanisms linking mental health disorders and cardiac disease are represented in these two parts.

Keywords:

Mental Health , Cardiac Disease , Coronary artery disease , Mechanisms