Mental health plays a bigger role in heart health than others may think. Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and stress can increase the risk of heart disease through physiological effects like elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, reduced blood flow to the heart, and higher levels of stress hormones like cortisol, which can contribute to plaque buildup in arteries over time. Stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health condistion can be hard to navigate. However, there are several ways to help reduce stress and anxiety. Making sure you get enough sleep, exercise, deep breathing, yoga, maintaining a healthy diet, practice relaxation, and some much more.