Heart Association: Mental wellness important for healthy heart, brain

OMAHA — People in rural communities live almost three years fewer than urban dwellers, and they’re more likely to die early from heart disease or a stroke. Anxiety, stress and depression can have a negative impact on physical health and may even increase the risk for heart disease and stroke, according to research reported in the 2021 scientific statement, Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind-Heart-Body Connection, from the American Heart Association, the world's leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all. These findings identified the strong interconnection between the mind, heart and body.