Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine

Heart & Mind Care for People With Cardiovascular Conditions

Cardiovascular behavioral medicine is the branch of health psychology that helps people address behaviors related to cardiac risk reduction and recovery. These specialists also work with people to decrease depression and anxiety. Mental health and emotional well-being are important aspects when managing a chronic heart condition.

Addressing mental health in people with heart conditions is especially important because they are more likely to experience depression. According to the American Psychological Association, symptoms of depression are around three times more common in people after an acute heart attack than in the general population. Experiencing depression after a heart attack can increase a person’s risk for heart problems by 64% and significantly increase their risk of death.

How we help

Wellstar’s cardiovascular behavioral medicine team is here to help people address the behaviors related to cardiac risk reduction and recovery. Our clinicians empower people with heart conditions to achieve their health goals, manage emotions related to their condition and help avoid rehospitalization. We offer in-person and virtual appointments depending on your preference and clinical needs.

Our specialists use scientifically-supported approaches to help people with cardiac disease:

• Identify and overcome hurdles to making healthy changes
• Improve mood, decrease anxiety and sleep better
• Lower cardiac risk factors to help avoid rehospitalization
• Lose weight when diet and exercise alone don’t seem to help
• Keep track of medications and be at your outpatient appointments

Is cardiovascular behavioral medicine right for me? 

Sometimes low mood, panic, overwhelming emotions, difficulties with problem-solving or memory, frustration with making change, and chronic fatigue get in the way of progress. Our heart-focused behavioral health team members are experts in overcoming these barriers. If you have a cardiac condition, have made a good-faith effort at change and are still struggling to achieve health goal success, a referral to one of our clinicians could help. 

Are you considering LVAD?

We conduct the psychological evaluation for the assessment of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation candidates and provide this information to the LVAD selection committee.