Nearly half of Americans are affected by cardiovascular disease, while about 1 in 4 live with a mental health condition.

A newly released report from Emory University points to a deeper connection between these two growing health challenges. According to the findings, certain mental health conditions can increase the risk of developing heart disease by 50 to 100 percent — and for those already diagnosed, the likelihood of severe outcomes in existing heart conditions may rise by 60 to 170 percent.

“It’s not only important to realize that people with mental disorders are at higher risk, according to disease, but also people with cardiovascular disorders are more likely to show mental health problems,” lead researcher Viola Vaccarino said.

Vaccarino, a professor of cardiovascular research

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