When people think about heart health, attention typically turns to factors below the neck—exercise, nutrition, cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Emerging research, however, points to a powerful upstream influence: the brain. February’s Heart Health Month offers an opportunity to explore the growing understanding of the brain-heart connection and how calming the nervous system may support cardiovascular well-being.

The brain and heart are constantly communicating through the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates involuntary functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and respiration. When the brain perceives safety, the nervous system operates with flexibility and balance. Under trauma or prolonged stress, however, the brain can remain in a persistent state of high alert.

In this stressed state, the brain continually signals the heart to stay on guard. Over time, this pattern may contribute to elevated blood pressure, inflammation, disrupted sleep and reduced heart rate variability (HRV). HRV refers to the natural variation in time between heartbeats and is widely recognized as a key indicator of cardiovascular resilience. In simple terms, HRV reflects how well the body adapts to life’s demands. A healthy heart is not rigid—it responds fluidly to both rest and activity. Lower HRV has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk and decreased stress adaptability.

Traditional stress-management practices such as meditation, breathwork and mindfulness can be effective, but they require sustained effort—something a chronically stressed nervous system may struggle to maintain. This has led researchers and clinicians to explore approaches that support the brain’s ability to self-regulate without conscious effort.

One such approach is neuroregulation. Cereset (short for cerebrum reset) is a noninvasive wellness technology that uses read-only sensors to detect the brain’s electrical patterns and translate them into gentle acoustic tones. This process allows the brain to observe its own activity and naturally shift out of stress-based patterns, restoring balance and flexibility without stimulation or effort.

Clinical research, including studies conducted at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, suggests that when the brain exits chronic stress states, autonomic function improves. As the nervous system becomes more regulated, many individuals report improvements in HRV, blood pressure stability, sleep quality and emotional resilience. In essence, when the brain relaxes, the heart is given the conditions it needs to function optimally.

Supporting cardiovascular health, then, may begin with supporting the brain’s capacity to reset and recover from chronic stress. This Heart Health Month, expanding the conversation beyond diet and exercise to include nervous system regulation offers a more complete picture of what it means to care for the heart—starting at the source.

Crista Mathew is the owner of Cereset Westport, located at 18 Kings Hwy. N., 2nd Fl., in Westport. She supports clients in releasing accumulated stress and restoring nervous system balance using Cereset’s patented BrainEcho technology. Mention this article for a 10 percent discount on an initial series completed by March 31. See ad, page 11.

Cereset Westport - 18 Kings Hwy N, Westport, CT

Cereset (Cerebrum + Reset) is a proven technology that helps the brain to relax, rebalance and reset itself naturally by listening to its own echo. A relaxed and balanced brain helps cli... Read More »