Vicki's heart disease made her unsure and nervous (1:00)
She describes her mounting paranoia, and how she learned to share the burden with her family.
Click the thumbnails below to watch more real stories.
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Emotional State Affects Heart
Situation—and hormones—can trigger the blues
( :46 )
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Heart Disease Blues
"I could only do a few things"
( :41 )
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Post Heart Surgery
Recovery was hard, empty
( :51 )
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Overwhelmed and Afraid
"I felt like a whiner"
( 1:00 )
Share Your Thoughts
Do you feel too busy to take care of your health?
Vicki was a world-class multitasker with a stressful job and family life. When she developed severe coronary artery disease, she often got down on herself. Depression affects the heart in many ways, both before and after heart disease. It can disrupt the heart’s rhythm, encourage inflammation and blood clots, and bathe the body in stress hormones that can raise blood pressure and harden arteries. People with blocked coronary arteries have reduced blood flow to the heart, but they can also have blockage in the arteries in their brain making them vulnerable to strokes.
Emotional State Affects HeartSituation—and hormones—can trigger the blues
Heart Disease Blues"I could only do a few things"
Post Heart SurgeryRecovery was hard, empty
Overwhelmed and Afraid"I felt like a whiner"
