You might be surprised to learn that how you feel
emotionally can have a big effect on your heart health. In fact, the
relationship between depression and heart disease is a two-way street. Not only
does depression appear to promote heart disease, but it can also result from a
heart attack. And depression can sap your motivation, make it hard to
concentrate, and leave you feeling hopeless, all of which can make it much
harder to take medications as prescribed and stick to a treatment plan.
Depression is also an important consideration for people
with heart failure. For people with heart failure who are also depressed,
symptoms are likely to worsen more quickly. One study demonstrated that the
rate of death and hospitalizations among depressed individuals with heart
failure is much higher than in those who don't show signs of depression. And,
while depression is more common in women with heart failure, it appears that
depression tends to be more severe in men with heart failure.
The good news is that depression can be treated successfully
with medications, psychosocial therapy, or both. And research has shown that
for people with both heart conditions and depression, treating the depression
can improve outcomes for the heart condition. In people who’ve had a heart
attack, for example, treating depression with selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs) can reduce the risk of another heart-related event.
Earlier diagnosis and improved treatments are now making it
possible to slow the onset of heart failure symptoms. And research has shown
that managing depression can lead to better self-care and fewer symptoms in
people with heart failure. Successfully managing heart failure involves working
closely with your medical team and sticking with your treatment plan. Don’t let
depression get in the way.
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