GALVESTON, Texas - Dr. Ken Fujise wants you to be good to your heart this Valentine's Day.
Fujise, director of the Division of Cardiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, said that there is scientific evidence that a person's emotional state and the health of the heart are closely linked.
According to Fujise, clinical studies have shown that being in a happy relationship, not having a lot of stress at work or home and just plain old being happy can lead to stronger hearts.
"A happy heart is a healthy heart," Fujise said.
Sure, he said, it's important for the health of your heart to watch your cholesterol level, maintain your body mass index, not smoke and to exercise regularly. But Fujise, citing numerous clinical studies over the years, noted that love has the power to prevent a heart from being "broken" and help mend a "broken" heart.
In one study, a group of cardiologists tracked women - some happy and some unhappy - for three years. An examination of the heart's blood vessels showed that coronary atherosclerosis - a narrowing of heart arteries - progressed more slowly in women who were in a low stress environment.
Another group of cardiologists tracked patients who had had a heart attack. Those patients in a supportive and loving environment lived healthier and longer, he said.
"So even if you have a partially broken heart, so to speak, a ‘happy heart' emotionally helps those hearts heal better," he said. A healthy relationship possesses magical power to help mend a "broken" heart, he added.
"Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate love and relationships," Fujise said. "Clinical studies really strongly suggest that a happy relationship, a happy marriage, a ‘joyful heart' can lead to a healthy heart. This holds true for young and old, men and women, alike."
"The opposite is true as well," Fujise said. Studies have found that a catastrophic emotional crisis, such as the death of a loved one, can sometimes lead to heart failure and even shock.
"We can conclude that emotional stress or unhappiness can lead to a weakened heart," Fujise said.
So, with Valentine's Day around the corner, Fujise encouraged everyone to slow down a little and reflect on the good things in their lives.
"Love, hope and joy will get your heart going," he said.
Fujise is an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association. His research has been supported by numerous funding sources, including the National Institutes of Health. He is triple board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine for general internal medicine, cardiovascular diseases and interventional cardiology, and is primarily known for his cardiovascular research.
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February is National Heart Month.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack. In 2008, about 770,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack.