We commonly think of the heart as the seat of emotions, but pragmatically, how is that possible? The heart pumps blood through the body. What does that have to do with emotions?

Quite a lot, in fact. Individuals who measure high in well-being (e.g., positive feeling, optimism, life satisfaction) experience greater cardiovascular health than their peers. A common theory is that greater well-being motivates healthier decisions around exercise, food, sleep hygiene, and more. When you feel better, you take care of yourself better. However, meta-analyses show that the connection between well-being and health behaviors is statistically weak. Feeling optimistic, positive, and satisfied with life relates independently to heart health.

The opposite is also true. Prevalence studies reveal that depressed individuals are more at risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) than their non-depressed peers. They exhibit impaired........

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