By Dr. Ivan Bracic, Clinical Director – Novaré™ Medical and Wellness
Fort Myers & Lehigh Acres, Florida
The Hidden Link Between Stress and Heart Health
When most people think of heart health, they picture diet, exercise, or blood pressure — but not necessarily stress. Yet stress may be one of the most overlooked risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
When you feel anxious, overextended, or emotionally tense, your body releases a flood of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. In the short term, this helps you push through a tough moment. But when those stress signals never shut off, your heart and blood vessels stay on constant alert — leading to higher blood pressure, inflammation, and strain on the cardiovascular system.
This is what we call the “silent strain”: the hidden wear-and-tear that builds up in the background of our busy lives.
The good news? You can train your brain to break that cycle — naturally.
How the Brain and Heart Work Together
Your brain and heart are in constant communication. Every heartbeat is influenced by signals from your nervous system, which responds to your emotional state. When the brain’s stress circuits stay overactive — particularly in the amygdala and hypothalamus — they send a steady stream of “fight-or-flight” messages through the body.
Over time, this constant tension can:
. Keep blood pressure elevated
. Increase heart rate variability (HRV) instability
. Interfere with deep sleep
. Reduce recovery after exercise
. Accelerate arterial aging
That’s why emotional wellness is essential to physical wellness. You can’t fully protect your heart without also caring for your mind.
A New Approach to Heart Health
At Novaré® Medical & Wellness, we help patients care for both their body and their brain.
One of the most innovative tools we use is Exomind™, a non-invasive therapy that helps calm the mind, balance the nervous system, and reduce the effects of chronic stress.
Exomind uses a technology called ExoTMS™ (Targeted Magnetic Stimulation). It gently activates areas of the brain responsible for regulating mood, focus, and emotional control — especially the prefrontal cortex, which
helps quiet the body’s stress response. The therapy is FDA-cleared, drug-free, and completely painless.
Each session lasts about 20 minutes, and many patients describe it as a deeply relaxing experience — almost like giving their mind permission to exhale.
The Science of Stress Relief
In multiple studies, Exomind™ has shown measurable improvements in mental and emotional wellness:
. 83% of participants reported feeling less stressed and more positive.
. 82% reported improved mood.
. 88% experienced better sleep and relaxation.
When the brain returns to balance, the body follows. Patients often notice their blood pressure stabilizing, sleep improving, and energy returning — all important factors in long-term heart health.
These results align with broader research on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which has been shown to reduce overactivity in the amygdala and strengthen prefrontal control — helping the body exit the chronic “fight-or-flight” mode that keeps the heart under strain.
Stress: The Modern Heart Risk
Even if you eat well and stay active, ongoing emotional stress can quietly undermine your efforts. After age 45, the body’s resilience to stress declines — cortisol levels remain elevated longer, and blood vessels become more sensitive to tension. That’s why managing emotional stress isn’t just a mental health issue — it’s a longevity strategy.
Consider this: The American Heart Association now recognizes chronic stress, anxiety, and depression as independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Yet most people still approach stress as something they just have to “push through.” At Novaré, we help patients replace that cycle of strain with one of restoration — teaching the body and brain how to recover, rest, and renew.
Restoring Balance: A Whole-Body Perspective
Our approach to wellness is integrative by design. Exomind™ focuses on the neural balance that supports calm and clarity, while our other advanced therapies help the body build strength, stability, and circulation.
. EmsculptNeo improves muscle tone and metabolism, helping regulate blood sugar and heart function.
. Emsella strengthens the pelvic core, improving posture and circulation.
. Chiropractic and regenerative therapies help maintain alignment, reducing nerve interference and physical tension.
Together, these therapies support a system-wide sense of vitality — what we call our Core-to-Mind™ philosophy. When your body feels strong and your brain feels balanced, your heart naturally thrives.
Real Stories of Renewal
Our patients often say that Exomind™ gave them back a sense of calm they didn’t realize they’d lost.
. One man in his 60s noticed that his blood pressure began to drop within weeks as his stress level normalized.
. A woman managing long-term anxiety described her sessions as “the first time my mind stopped racing.”
. Another patient shared, “I feel lighter — like my whole body can finally relax again.”
When the brain learns to let go, the body follows suit. That’s the true essence of wellness — not just the absence of disease, but the presence of balance.
This February, Put Your Heart First
Your heart does more than keep you alive — it reflects how you live. If chronic stress, anxiety, or fatigue have taken their toll, it’s time to take care of your most important muscle from the inside out.
At Novaré® Medical & Wellness, we offer complimentary consultations to help you explore how Exomind™ and our integrated programs can help protect your heart, calm your mind, and restore your energy.
Call 239-497-9355 to learn more. Let this February be the month you reconnect with peace, balance, and your heart’s natural rhythm.
239-497-9355
NovareWellness.com
15880 Summerlin Road, Ste 114
Fort Myers, FL 33908