Serotonin & Heart Disease Information

A link between serotonin levels and heart disease has been discovered, which could lead to additional methods of fighting the condition. Individuals at risk of heart disease will still need to follow previous recommendations of prevention (exercise, a healthy diet, stop smoking, limit alcohol consumption), but raising serotonin levels could prove to be one more weapon to use in the personal battle for a healthy heart.

Effects

• The body considers low levels of serotonin as much of a stress on the body as high cholesterol and smoking, and it stimulates the same immune system response. It is this response that leads to heart disease. In the same way white blood cells fight infection in a cut, the body sends white blood cells to fight stress on the arteries. When this occurs repeatedly, the white blood cells begin to stick on site. White blood cells absorb LDL ("bad") cholesterol from the bloodstream, which sounds like a good thing, but it's not. The LDL cholesterol causes the white blood cells to become stiff, and this hardens the arteries---which is what heart disease is, a hardening of the arteries.

History

• Low levels of serotonin are widely known to be associated with depression, but low serotonin levels are also associated with hostility. Additionally, stress had become an accepted risk factor for heart disease. At the turn of the 21st century, scientists began to view serotonin as one root cause of heart disease, because low levels can lead to hostility, which is a response to stress.

Significance

• If studies continue to confirm early findings, then boosting serotonin levels could become a part of plans for preventing heart disease and stroke. Heart disease (which includes coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure and congenital heart disease) is the leading cause of death in the United States, while stroke is the third. Though long before death, both conditions can lead to disability or at least poor quality of life. Additional treatment options increase the odds of identifying a lifestyle and treatment plan for each at-risk individual.

Warning

• Even if studies continue to confirm the link between serotonin levels and heart disease, it will not be an all-purpose cure all. Each individual is different, and serotonin might be a small factor for one person and a larger factor for someone else. It will always be important to exercise more days than not, to eat a nutrient dense diet, avoid fats, minimize sugar, quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption.

Theories/Speculation

• It is likely that low levels of serotonin simply lead to poor lifestyle choices, and it is those choices that lead to heart disease. But the truth of that does not negate the findings that low serotonin levels produce a physical response by the immune system.