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Mental Illness Linked With Heart, Blood Pressure Dysregulation
Mental illness is associated with dysregulated autonomic function, as reflected in increased daytime blood pressure variation and reduced heart rate variation. Researchers published their findings in BioMedical Engineering OnLine.
“Since mental illness can contribute to the deterioration of autonomic function (heart rate variability, blood pressure variability), early therapeutic intervention in mental illness may prevent diseases associated with autonomic dysregulation and reduce the likelihood of negative cardiac outcomes,” researchers reported.
The systematic review included 12 studies of blood pressure variability in people without hypertension but with anxiety/generalized anxiety disorder, depression/major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and hostility.
The review identified a significant link between mental illness and increased blood pressure variability during the day.
“We also found that for people who are mentally ill, their heart rate does not adapt to external stressors as it should,” said study author Renly Lim, PhD, of the University of South Australia. “Contrary to what many people think, a healthy heart is not one that beats like a metronome. Instead, it should adjust to withstand environmental and psychological challenges. A constantly changing heart rate is actually a sign of good health.”
Heart rate variability, or the time between 2 heartbeats, should change according to external stressors, the research team explained. Reduced heart rate variability occurs when a body is in fight-or-flight mode or easily stressed and signals a poor stress response in the body.
“What we aim for is not a constantly changing heart rate, but a high heart rate variation,” said Dr Lim. “This is achieved through a healthy diet, exercise, low stress, and good mental health.”
Large blood pressure variations are not ideal during the day, but systolic pressure should dip between 10% and 20% at night to allow the heart to rest. However, the review showed a less than 10% drop in blood pressure at night in people with mental health disorders.
“The takeout from this study is that we need to pay more attention to the physical impacts of mental illness…” said Dr Lim. “Since mental illness can contribute to the deterioration of heart and blood pressure regulation, early therapeutic intervention is essential.”
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