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How Much Does Stress and Depression Affect the Risk for Heart Disease?

How Much Does Stress and Depression Affect the Risk for Heart Disease? (0:35)

Can stress and depression increase the risk of heart disease? In this video Robin Miller, MD, shares the answer to this medical question.

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How much does stress and depression affect the risk for heart disease? Quite a bit, a study of close to 4500 people who has been diagnosed with coronary artery disease for a study between 2003 and 2007 during that time there was 1457 deaths or heart attacks, those reported high level of stress and when depression was 48% more likely to have a heart attack or die, two and half years after they were initially studied.

Okay so did stress alone or depression alone have the same effect? No it's the combination is a perfect storm. Oh gosh okay they have to be a little careful with that.