A 2012 meta-analysis found that mild depression and anxiety—where symptoms are so subtle that people may not think to go to the doctor and get diagnosed—ups heart disease mortality by 29 percent. High levels of depression and anxiety also meant more than double the risk of heart-related death.

Why? Depression and anxiety, and daily stressors such as a fight with a spouse, all contribute to spikes in cortisol levels, says Dr. Parikh, and increased cortisol ups your chances of high blood pressure and heart disease. Research has also found that depression raises your risk of arterial clogging and makes you less likely to exercise and eat right, which also contributes to poor heart health.

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