Emmanuel clutched his chest in the quiet of his home, his heart pounding erratically after flashbacks of a car accident years ago. If you’ve ever felt your heart race after a stressful memory or noticed chest tightness during anxiety, you’ve experienced trauma. The trauma left him exhausted, with a fluttering heartbeat that stole his peace and joy.
Trauma and Heart Disease Risk
Trauma disrupts the heart by flooding it with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, leading to irregular rhythms or arrhythmias. Studies show those with high adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) face 50% higher cardiovascular disease risk, including heart rhythm issues from weakened vagal tone. Acute emotional stress can trigger disturbances in cardiac rhythm, making the heart beat too fast or unevenly.
Healing the Heart from Trauma
- Somatic Therapy: Helps release stored tension and teaches the body to regulate stress.
- EMDR Therapy: Allows the nervous system to reprocess traumatic memories and reduce hyperarousal.
- Polyvagal-Informed Therapy: Strengthens vagal tone, supporting heart health and overall resilience.
- Mindfulness & Breathwork: Practices like deep, slow breathing activate the parasympathetic system, lowering heart rate and blood pressure.
Read more about approaches that support both heart and mind here.
Next Steps
Begin with gentle walks, paired with deep breathing and mindfulness prayer to restore vagal tone and steady your heart. Philippians 4 vs 6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Consult a doctor for symptoms, and take our free heart test today.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does trauma do to your heart?
Trauma activates chronic stress, raising heart rate, blood pressure, and inflammation, which can damage vessels and cause arrhythmias.
- Can emotional trauma cause heart problems?
Yes, acute emotional stress triggers arrhythmias and contractile issues; high ACEs raise CVD risk by 50%.
- How to heal your heart from trauma?
Use somatic therapy, breathwork, and gentle movement to boost vagal tone and lower stress hormones.
- What diseases can you get from trauma?
Hypertension, coronary disease, stroke, arrhythmias—ACEs link to 50% higher CVD and early death risk.
- How to release trauma stored in the heart?
Mindfulness, deep breathing, and polyvagal therapy release tension via the vagus nerve, improving heart variability.
