Authors

• Matijana Jurišić — Health Centre Tomislavgrad, Tomislavgrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina — ORCID: 0000-0001-5419-4750
• Miro Jakovljević — University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0003-0420-357X

Keywords

psychocardiology, empathy, resilience, patient care

DOI

Full Text

Psychocardiology is a multidisciplinary field that connects psychology and cardiology with the goal of providing comprehensive care to patients with cardiovascular diseases. Psychological factors, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, often have a significant impact on the development and outcome of cardiovascular conditions. (1) Patients with chronic heart diseases frequently suffer from depression, while prolonged stress is linked to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart attacks. (1) These connections emphasize the importance of psychological health in cardiac treatment. Empathy and resilience are key factors in the care of patients with cardiovascular diseases, especially within the field of psychocardiology, which examines the interaction between psychological and cardiac conditions. These concepts contribute to the understanding and approach to patients not only from a physical but also from an emotional aspect, enabling comprehensive health care. Empathy refers to the ability to understand and share the emotions of others, and in the context of caring for heart patients, it helps create a connection between medical staff and patients. (2) Through an empathetic approach, patients feel understood, accepted, and emotionally supported, reducing their psychological stress and contributing to recovery. In medical practice, when healthcare workers show empathy toward patients, communication improves, which not only reduces patients’ fear and anxiety but also positively influences their motivation to follow therapeutic plans. (3) Empathy also plays an important role in the decision-making process, as better communication enables patients to become more actively involved in their own treatment and recovery. Resilience, as the ability to adapt to stress, trauma, and challenges, is crucial in the context of chronic diseases such as heart conditions. Patients with heart diseases often face long-term and serious health challenges, and resilience allows them to better cope with the physical and emotional difficulties that accompany their illness. Empowered patients, who develop the ability to cope with challenges, have a better prognosis in terms of long-term mental and physical health.

Literature

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