Depression and Heart Disease

 Depression as illness is of a grave concern to our general health and well being. It is closely associated with anxiety. Further, studies have clearly demonstrated that Depression adversely affects the impact and treatment of other disease including heart disease.

Scientific evidence shows that people with heart disease are more likely to suffer from depression than otherwise healthy people, and conversely, people with depression are at greater risk for developing heart disease. Furthermore, people with heart disease who are depressed have an increased risk of death after a heart attack compared to those who are not depressed. It appears there is heart and brain linkage in depression in the form of inflamed blood vessels.

Depression  is closely associated with  Anxiety  which may represent a sense of fear, dread, or a sense that you are in immediate danger. It is often difficult to separate one from the other. A person with depression is very likely to be also suffering from anxiety and vice-versa. The two  conditions-Depression and Anxiety- are so closely interrelated that it is often difficult to separate one from the other.

Depression and anxiety disorders may affect heart rhythms, increase blood pressure, and alter blood clotting. They can also lead to elevated insulin and cholesterol levels. These risk factors, with obesity, form a group of signs and symptoms that often serve as  a predictor of heart disease. Finally, depression or anxiety result in chronically elevated levels of stress hormones diverting the body’s metabolism from the type of tissue repair needed in heart disease.

Apart from heart disease, depression and anxiety disorders are often found to co–exist with other serious medical illnesses such as  stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes,and Parkinson’s disease.

Scientific evidence indicates that treating the depression can  help improve the outcome of treating the co–occurring illness consequently enhancing the person’s quality of life. 

If you liked reading this article and would want to read more on Depression and Health related topics by the same author, Please view:

http://healthmad.com/mental-health/how-depression-affects-adolescents/#ixzz1ld69FCZP

http://healthmad.com/mental-health/depression-is-an-illness-and-not-you/

http://healthmad.com/mental-health/main-causes-of-depression/

http://healthmad.com/mental-health/depression-can-make-money/

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