About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and their health will be at serious risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. More worrisome still is the high likelihood that depression—another leading health risk—will accompany heart disease. In fact, depression is present in around 50% of patients after a heart attack. While feeling “down in the dumps” can be a common reaction to heart problems, a continual low mood may be a sign of clinical depression.
Depression affects nearly 20 million Americans each year, and people suffering from heart disease should be especially aware of the signs. Why? Because research shows that depression is more common in heart disease patients than in the general population. Since symptoms tend to overlap, depression is often overlooked when it co-occurs with heart disease, leading to serious consequences for both patients and families. The good news is that depression, when recognized, is highly treatable.
5 Facts About Heart Disease and Depression
1. The prevalence of various forms of depression is estimated from 40 to 65 percent in coronary heart disease patients with a history of heart attack.
2. 18-20 percent of coronary heart patients without a history of heart attack may experience depression.
3. Major depression puts heart attack victims at greater risk and appears to add to the patients' disability from heart disease.
4. Depression can contribute to a worsening of symptoms as well as poor adherence to cardiac treatment regimens.
5. People who survive heart attacks but suffer from major depression have a 3-4 times greater risk of dying within six months than those who do not suffer from depression (www.healthyplace.com).
Screening for risk factors for heart disease.
Life Line Screening offers screenings for important risk factors for heart disease. We recommend purchasing a screening package that includes screening for:
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