Help your heart. There’s a strong link between heart disease and depression, but it is possible to exploit this two-way street and simultaneously heal the mind and the heart, says the Harvard Heart Letter’s February issue. Depression causes an increase in inflammation, which is involved in artery-clogging atherosclerosis and the rupture of plaque. It boosts the production of stress hormones, which dull the response of the heart and arteries. It also activates blood platelets, making them more likely to form clots in the bloodstream. People who are depressed find it hard to exercise, but a regular fitness program can improve mood even as it strengthens the heart by releasing mood-altering chemicals in the brain, improving the supply of energy and oxygen to the brain, spurring the growth of new nerve cells in the brain, and reinforcing connections between existing nerves. More at Harvard Heart Letter
