How does depression affect my heart?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:When I say depression, I'm not talking about losing 20 bucks in the office Super Bowl pool. A more passive negative emotional state over the long term is strongly associated with heart disease. In fact, people with depression are statistically four times more likely to have a heart attack than people who are not depressed. A feeling of helplessness appears to weaken the immune system. Beyond that, we need to learn a lot about how the depressed state of mind affects the body; what we know now is that it does affect it profoundly.
For instance, one study has shown that depression increases platelet aggregation, which means that being depressed may make you more prone to arterial clotting and arterial aging. Seeking professional help and managing depression requires recognizing it in yourself or friends, and getting help or helping your friends get help results in more than a 90 percent reduction in symptoms and consequences in just three months. Seeking help, whether through therapy or medication, is a needed first step to help you and your heart.
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When I say depression, I'm not talking about losing 20 bucks in the office Super Bowl pool. A more passive negative emotional state over the long term is strongly associated with heart disease. In fact, people with depression are statistically four... More -
Dr. Deborah Serani answered:The heartache that comes with depression can increase the likelihood of a heart attack. In fact, a recent study showed that a person with a depressive disorder and a heart condition were five times more likely to die than a person with depression alone or a heart condition alone. The actual medical term for this deeply emotional mind/body experience is called stress cardiomyopathy. You might know the colloquial term better: a broken heart.Helpful? 3 people found this helpfulThe heartache that comes with depression can increase the likelihood of a heart attack. In fact, a recent study showed that a person with a depressive disorder and a heart condition were five times more likely to die than a person with... More -
SecondsCount.org answered:Depression is linked both to development of heart disease and worsening of heart disease in people who have already been diagnosed with it. About 20 percent of people who have had a heart attack or coronary artery bypass surgery experience major depression. Managing that depression is a key part of recovery and quality of life.
Here are some startling facts about depression and heart disease:
- Even for people who do not have heart disease, depression can increase the risk of a heart attack and the development of coronary artery disease. And if you are depressed, you are more likely to die from sudden heart problems.
- If you have heart disease, depression can increase the risk of an adverse heart event such as a heart attack or blood clots.
- If you have heart disease and are depressed, you are more likely to perceive a poorer health status, which decreases your quality of life.
- If you are recovering from heart surgery, depression can worsen pain and fatigue and cause you to withdrawal from your social support system. This increases your risk of surgery-related illness and even death.
- If you have heart failure, depression increases your risk of being readmitted to the hospital and it increases your risk of death.
- If you have heart disease and are depressed, you are less likely to take your medications as directed. And negative lifestyle habits associated with depression - such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity, poor eating habits and lack of social support - also contribute to your heart disease risk.
Helpful? 2 people found this helpfulDepression is linked both to development of heart disease and worsening of heart disease in people who have already been diagnosed with it. About 20 percent of people who have had a heart attack or coronary artery bypass surgery experience major... More
