By Alison Guerrero, Wellness Professional

Sometimes when I think of the Seven Dimensions of Wellness (Physical, Emotional, Social, Intellectual, Vocational, Environmental, Spiritual,) I think of them separately, as entities wholly of their own category. Physical is exercise, Intellectual is learning, Vocational is working, so on and so forth. But then in the moments when I’m spending time with my loved ones, when I’m working on a project at work, or when I’ve finished a difficult workout, I realize just how the dimensions really are connected. How? You might be asking. Through the heart, of course.

Each dimension has its own impact on the heart by mitigating the stresses in our life and helping our hearts feel both healthy and whole. Stress sends signals to the body to release inflammation and hormones that contribute to elevated blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, cholesterol and plaque,
and irregular heartbeats. All of that can be detrimental to the heart’s effective function, and lead to an increased risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, and death. Let’s see how each dimension can ease stress:

PHYSICAL: Regular exercise, healthy diet, and adequate sleep improve cardiovascular function by reducing blood pressure, releasing feel-good hormones, reducing heart rate, and strengthening the heart.

EMOTIONAL: Becoming aware of and understanding your emotions, learning and practicing healthy coping skills like journaling, meditation, and more can reduce stress.

SOCIAL: Finding strong social and community connections help combat the stress of loneliness and increases a sense of belonging.

INTELLECTUAL: Expanding knowledge and skills, flexing your brain and exploring new concepts to keep our brain engaged provides needed distraction from stressors.

VOCATIONAL: Finding purpose and satisfaction through work like volunteering for your favorite nonprofit
or teaching skills to those around you can be a source of strength when faced with stress.

ENVIRONMENTAL: Stress reduction also comes from working toward healthier surroundings, small scale and large, through recycling, pollution reduction, cleaning and caring for your community around you, and more.

SPIRITUAL: Participating in activities that support your beliefs and values, finding purpose and meaning with or without organized religion help combat the stresses of life.

Since February is Heart Health Month, it’s the perfect time to take steps to fulfill the Seven Dimensions of Wellness in an effort to help support your heart health!