Improve your mental health and manage your stress to boost your heart

By James Lloyd

When we think about looking after our heart, exercise and diet often come to mind first. But our mental health plays just as important a role. High levels of stress, especially when ongoing, can increase blood pressure, disturb sleep, and strain the heart over time.

Learning how to manage stress is therefore an important part of protecting our overall health.

Psychotherapy and approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can be very effective in reducing stress. CBT helps us notice patterns in our thinking that may fuel anxiety or worry and offers practical tools to respond differently. For example, instead of getting caught in cycles of ‘what if’ thinking, we can learn to step back, gain perspective, and focus on what is within our control.

Therapy also supports us in developing healthier daily habits. This can include strategies for better sleep, relaxation practices, and ways of balancing the demands of work, relationships, and personal life. Over time, these changes not only reduce stress but also support heart health, helping to lower blood pressure, improve energy, and restore a sense of wellbeing.

It’s normal to feel stress in today’s busy world, but if it feels overwhelming or constant, reaching out for support can make a real difference. Psychotherapy offers a safe space to understand what’s driving our stress and to learn evidence-based techniques to manage it more effectively. By looking after our mind, we also take an important step toward looking after our heart.

James Lloyd is an integrative psychotherapist based in Cork, offering online sessions as well as in-person therapy from offices in Cork city and Fermoy. He specialises in CBT, EMDR, and Internal Family Systems (IFS), helping clients manage stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges. More information is available at ceangail.ie.