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Webinar: As Anxiety, Depression Mount, The Link Between Mental Health and Your Heart

March 18, 2021

Have you felt tightness in your chest or exhaustion and wondered if it was stress or a heart condition?

Anxiety and depression symptoms in 2020 tripled in comparison with 2019, said Dr. Heather Swales, director of the Women’s Heart Wellness Center, at The Hospital of Central Connecticut.

Join the free webinar, Mental Health and The Heart, with Dr. Heather Swales March 23 from noon-1 p.m. To register, call 1.855.442.4373 or click here.[/pullquote]

“I have been seeing more women coming in with months or weeks of mild symptoms that they were blaming on stress and anxiety,” she said. “With testing we have found that heart disease is the main reason for their symptoms.”

Join Dr. Swales in a free webinar, Mental Health and The Heart, March 23 from noon-1 p.m. Dr. Swales, the associate fellowship director of the Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute, will talk about how to identify some of the common signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety, how to tell the difference between a panic attack and a heart attack, and ways you can improve your heart health during a pandemic.

A question-and-answer session with Dr. Swales will follow the presentation.

She encourages people to stay connected with their doctor, to keep routine scheduled appointments and to reach out if they are experiencing new symptoms or have concerns.

“Exercise and fresh air are two of the ‘best medicines,’ getting outside and moving your body can help reduce cardiovascular disease risk and reduce anxiety and depression symptoms,” Dr. Swales said. She also said it is important to eat healthy and get enough sleep.

The webinar, “Mental Health and the Heart,” hosted by The Hospital of Central Connecticut, will be on Tuesday, March 23, from noon to 1 p.m.