Depression, stress, anger and lack of social support pose risks to heart health.  More than 20 percent of cardiac patients experience serious depression following hospitalization for heart disease. Cardiac patients with significant distress levels are at high risk for worsening heart disease. 

 

The Henry Low Heart Center is the only heart center in Connecticut offering a full spectrum of services for behavioral cardiology, including psychological counseling for patients after heart attack, coronary bypass surgery, heart transplant and patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators.  The Counseling and Stress Management Program provides educational classes in stress management, relaxation training and psychosocial aspects of heart disease.

 

The program is located in the Department of Preventive Cardiology. Patients often are referred to the program by their cardiologists,  but patients can refer themselves as well.  Sessions last approximately an hour and most people come for short-term (1-12 sessions) counseling. In most cases, this service is covered by their health insurance.  The counseling staff also provides educational classes in stress management to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs in Hartford, Avon and Glastonbury.