Heart health isn’t just about your physical condition – your thoughts and emotions also play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. By focusing on the healing power of positive emotions, you can improve your heart’s wellness in ways that conventional medical treatments can’t touch.
Chest pain can be rooted in panic and fear. Your body is a complex biofeedback system, which means that panic and fear can manifest as chest pain. In fact, the most common cause of chest pain is not a heart attack, but a panic attack.
When you experience heightened emotions like intense fear or anger for prolonged periods of time, your body reacts negatively. Symptoms can include headaches, high blood pressure, neck tension, and stomach acid. These emotions also increase the release of the stress hormone cortisol, which raises your risk of an adverse cardiovascular event.
Stress, anger, and depression are all independent risk factors for an unhealthy heart. No matter how healthy your heart’s structure may be, strong negative emotions can cause painful spasms in your blood vessels and lead to cardiovascular issues.
The spiritual side of heart health often revolves around dealing with anger issues, healing family relationships, and focusing on joy and peace in your life rather than material possessions. Author Louise L. Hay suggests that good health lies in traits such as having a good appetite, sound sleep, a good memory, good humor, and being honest, humble, grateful, and loving.
Gratitude, love, and happiness can work wonders for your heart. Cultivating these emotions can help you create a positive feedback loop of healing energy. Unconditional love, in particular, is essential for optimal wellbeing. This type of love is non-judgmental, free of expectations, and devoid of conditions.
Counterfeit forms of love, such as material possessions, social status, flattery, or exerting power over others, can lead to destructive behavior and unhappiness. Embracing unconditional love and connection has been shown to have measurable benefits for heart health.
In a study conducted by Yale University, participants who felt the most loved showed significantly less blockage in their coronary arteries. Similarly, a Case Western Reserve University study found that married men who felt loved by their wives experienced significantly less chest pain. Duke University researchers also found that participants who lacked a trusted friendship connection faced a higher mortality rate after five years.
Fostering love and relationships should be a priority in order to maintain a healthy heart. One effective way to do this is through guided meditation. Find a quiet place to sit and focus, regulating your breath to be deep, slow, and even. Allow yourself to relax and visualize a bright light above you, growing brighter as you breathe. Inhale the light through the top of your head, and exhale as the light energy fills your body, bringing peace, love, confidence, and healing. Practice this for five minutes, then gently bring your awareness back to the present moment.
Engaging in activities such as meditation and fostering healthy, loving relationships can do wonders for your heart’s wellbeing. By focusing on the healing power of positive emotions and thoughts, you can improve your heart health and overall quality of life.
