February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about cardiovascular health and prevention. While diet, exercise, and medical risk factors like cholesterol and blood pressure are often emphasized, there is another powerful driver of heart health that deserves equal attention: mental health.

A growing body of research shows that emotional wellbeing and cardiovascular health are deeply interconnected. Scientific evidence suggests that stress, anxiety, and depression do not just influence how we feel — they have measurable effects on the body that can increase the risk of heart disease and related conditions.