Make simple change to lower risk of world’s biggest ‘silent killer’

Love is in the air and, in the run-up to Valentine’s Day, hearts are everywhere.

But it’s a pretty bleak picture when it comes to the real thing, with more than 7.6 million people in the UK living with heart disease – the world’s leading cause of death dubbed a silent killer due to it being hard to detect – and circulation issues.

In fact, over half the UK population will develop heart or circulatory disease at some time in their lives. The good news is, looking after your love life can, literally, help save you from a broken heart. Here’s how:

Healthy connection

Multiple studies have shown that being in a relationship can add years to your life, with one showing a happy relationship cuts the risk of early death in the next 20 years by 40%.

Another study, looking at the health of more than 164,000 people aged 65 to 85, found that, on average, being married added 2.2 years to a man’s life, with 2.4 years more of active, healthy life. For women, it added 1.5 years of life and two years of active life.

One theory is that those in a loving relationship are more likely to make healthier lifestyle choices, and this might help to explain why being in a relationship reduces the risk of heart disease.

Researchers at Keele University analysed 34 studies involving more than two million people aged 42 to 77. They found that those who had never married, or were divorced or widowed, were at 42% higher risk of cardiovascular disease and were 16% more likely to develop coronary artery disease than those who were married.

Not being married increased the risk of dying from heart disease by 42% and death from a stroke by 55%. Lead researcher Chun Wai Wong says: “Our findings suggest that marriage has a protective effect on cardiovascular diseases.”

Hormonal boost

Some hormones associated with building and maintaining relationships are also good for the heart. For instance, oxytocin, which is sometimes called the love hormone or cuddle hormone, is best known for cementing the bond between a mother and child, but it also helps regulate cardiovascular function.

It has been shown to dampen inflammation associated with obesity and reduce anxiety, both recognised drivers of heart disease. Some experts believe it even has the potential as a treatment for heart failure, a chronic condition in which the heart becomes too stiff or weak to pump properly but hasn’t actually stopped working.

There is also evidence that oxytocin could help repair cellular damage caused by a heart attack. The reward hormone dopamine plays a big part in reinforcing attachments and fMRI imaging, which tracks blood flow to see brain activity, confirms increased dopamine lights up pleasure centres in our grey matter when we look at a photo of a partner we love.

Stress busters

Higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol are known to increase the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and vascular disease, with some experts suggesting the link is so strong that taking hair samples to check cortisol levels would help spot those at most risk.

Saliva tests confirm that after ruling out other factors such as BMI and demographic differences, married couples have lower waking levels of cortisol than people who have never married, and during the afternoon, stress markers fall more steeply than those who have never married.

Hug yourself heart happy

Researchers at the University of South Carolina discovered that couples who enjoy frequent hugs have lower blood pressure and heart rate and higher levels of cardio-protective oxytocin.

Another found that couples who held hands and had a 20-second hug before completing a stressful task had lower blood pressure than those who kept their distance. Hugs also provide a heart-healthy mood boost after an argument or conflict.

Love a workout

Making love provides some aerobic exercise, and it will burn around five calories a minute, although studies show that walking on a treadmill provides a better workout than “sexercise”. But sex does flood the body with feel-good endorphins, which can lower blood pressure and improve heart function.

These hormones also protect against depression and anxiety, which increase the risk of heart disease. And don’t be put off if you have a headache – as a bonus, these endorphins help relieve pain. Researchers at the German University of Munster found that sex relieves migraines and cluster headaches.

Heartbreak is real

People really can die from a broken heart. Emily says: “Takotsubo syndrome, also known as broken heart syndrome, is a condition where your heart muscle changes shape and suddenly weakens. This usually happens when someone is under severe emotional or physical stress. “No one knows the exact cause, but one theory is that a rush of overwhelming stress hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline, puts sudden stress on the heart, causing temporary damage.”

Professor Dana Dawson, from the University of Aberdeen Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research Unit, who leads a large European study into the syndrome, says: “Symptoms can appear like a heart attack, including shortness of breath and chest pain. But Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a different condition entirely, and unlike a heart attack, patients don’t suffer from a blockage of the arteries that supply the heart with blood.”

That also means the standard treatments for a heart attack have little impact, so studies are now focusing on finding more effective therapies. There is also a suggestion that genetics play a part, so if this has happened to a parent or grandparent, it’s even more important to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle if you’ve suffered a bereavement.

Takotsubo syndrome is far more common in women, who account for nine out of 10 reported cases. This is possibly because of lower oestrogen levels following menopause.

The number of reported cases has increased dramatically in the past 20 years, although this could be due to greater awareness of the condition. 

The British Heart Foundation can provide more information about heart health.