CHICAGO (NewsNation) — A recent study from the American College of Cardiology found that stress and depression in young and middle-aged women significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Researchers are unsure why there’s a direct correlation between mental health and cardiovascular disease in women.

However, what is evident is that women with chronic anxiety, depression, heart palpitations, indigestion or an array of these symptoms are often diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or heart failure.

Depression and anxiety accelerate heart risks

These issues aren’t only found in older women but also in younger and middle-aged women.

Researchers followed more than 70,000 people for a decade and found that those with a history of depression and anxiety before the study were about 55% more likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Additionally, women under 50 with mental issues were nearly twice as likely to develop these cardiovascular risk factors.

Bottling up emotions can be deadly for women

According to the research, bottling up your feelings is one of the worst things people can do, especially for women.

In a study of more than 3,600 men and women from a Massachusetts town over 10 years, those who “self-silenced” or “kept their feelings bottled up” during marital issues were four times more likely to die during the study than those who said “how they felt.” Importantly, this effect didn’t apply to men.

Regardless of a woman’s marital happiness, what mattered was whether she expressed her feelings.

Additionally, women are also prone to a condition known as “broken heart syndrome.” According to the Mayo Clinic, broken heart syndrome is a heart condition that’s often brought on by stressful situations and extreme emotions. 

Researchers suggest preventative medicine

To maintain heart health, it’s recommended that women stop ignoring warning signs and listen to their bodies. Seeking therapy, joining support groups, practicing meditation, yoga and breathing exercises can also contribute to overall heart health.

Researchers also suggest preventative medicine, recommending that physicians start testing female patients with anxiety and depression for heart disease risk factors.