Opening your heart 05-04-2006 One of the biggest causes of heart disease that men have to overcome is social isolation and emotional stress. Lack of social support, low self-esteem, cynicism and hostility are as significant as all the physical factors mentioned earlier. Looking after your physical body is only part of the attention you need to devote to your health. Your emotional well-being should be regarded as equally important. Cholesterol levels can be elevated by stress. There is a syndrome called 'contraction band necrosis' whereby your heart muscle becomes so distorted that blood flow around your heart becomes severely compromised. This disorder manifests in those individuals who are chronically tense thereby increasing their stress hormones. Experiments have demonstrated that ongoing emotional deprivation and the absence of normal social contact leads to coronary artery blockages even in those cases where cholesterol is normal. The message should be abundantly clear to you now that if you have a fortress around your heart and you remain emotionally contracted, you are in danger and you need to take positive action. The way to open up your heart is to acknowledge your needs and your feelings maybe to your partner or a community of men who are in a similar situation to you. In its primal state the heart only knows connection, unity and love. It does not recognise separation and distance. You will only develop a deep compassion for yourself and others when you are really listened to, and, when you unconditionally receive others. Male Vitality | New theories | Preventing heart disease | The healthy diet | Wonder nutrients for the cardiovascular system | Opening your heart | Protecting your prostate | Losing your hair? | Antioxidants | Male Vitality Summary