Depression Information

Depression After A Heart Attack


There are several factors can lead to depression after heart attack. The stress of being in the hospital, the fear of another heart attack, time away from work can all contribute to feeling depressed, helpless, down and despondent.

Do many people suffer depression after heart attack?

Not surprisingly, the answer to this question is yes. Recent studies show that as many as 65% of people who have a heart attack report feeling depressed, down and despondent. A general state of despair. Moreover, women, people who have been depressed before, and people who feel alone and without social or emotional support are at a higher risk for feeling depressed after a heart attack. Two new Canadian studies have shown that More than twice as many women than men tend to fall into chronic depression after suffering a heart attack and are more likely to lead lives of poorer quality following their treatments.

Being depressed can also make it harder for you to recover. However, depression can be treated.

Being told by doctors that you should take up exercise, adopt a new diet, stop smoking, etc. etc. etc. can certainly make you feel helpless, in fact, you will probably have good days and bad days following your release from hospital. However, most people start to feel better as time passes. People that are quickly able to get back to their usual routines normally notice a drop in anxiety faster than those that don't.

So what exactly is depression?

Depression, be it after a heart attack or not, is a medical illness, like diabetes or high blood pressure and not just somebody going crazy. This is important both for the sufferer and family members to understand. The symptoms of depression may include some or all of the following:

  • Feeling sad or crying often
  • Losing interest in daily activities that used to be fun
  • Changes in appetite and weight
  • Sleeping too much or having trouble sleeping
  • Feeling agitated, cranky or sluggish
  • Loss of energy
  • Feeling very guilty or worthless
  • Problems concentrating or making decisions
  • Thoughts of death or suicide
  • Can heart disease trigger depression or depression trigger heart disease?

    Either of the above may be true, one thing seems clear. The two are often found hand in hand, therefore controlling one may help control the other.

    According to The American Academy of Family Physicians research has shown that people who are depressed and have pre-existing cardiovascular disease have a 3.5 times greater risk of dying of a heart attack than patients with heart disease who are not depressed. In a recent study, depression was shown to be associated with an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease in men and women. Depression was shown to increase mortality related to coronary heart disease in men but had no effect on mortality in women.

    How can the risk of relapse be avoided?

    The risk of relapses, be it of heart disease or depression, can be greatly reduced by living a healthy lifestyle, and your doctor will instruct you on this. However, some important lifestyle modifications are avoiding alcohol, illegal drugs, smoking, start a regular exercise program, eating a balanced diet, manage stress, join a club, meet new people or take courses in things that interest you, get enough rest and sleep

    For more heart health related information visit http://www.AllAbout-Heart-Disease.com - a site that offers user-friendly articles, tips and advice for avoiding heart disease, getting the edge on risk factors and living your life to the full!


    MORE RESOURCES:

    KCBS

    UNC study links alcohol abstinence with depression
    Bizjournals.com, NC - 16 hours ago
    In the study, mice that voluntarily drank alcohol for 28 days exhibited depression-like behavior 14 days after they stopped drinking. ...
    Study Says Drinking Age Has Saved Lives KCBS
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    Ending Moderate Drinking Tied To Depression
    Science Daily (press release) - 20 hours ago
    But new research shows that stopping drinking -- including at moderate levels -- may lead to health problems including depression and a reduced capacity of ...


    Sinkhole-like depression discovered off Rail Trail
    Park Record, UT - 5 hours ago
    by Jay Hamburger OF THE RECORD STAFF State officials are investigating what caused a sinkhole-like depression to form off the Rail Trail last spring, ...


    BA student commits suicide in depression
    Times of India, India - 11 hours ago
    LUCKNOW: A 19-year-old girl committed suicide in Alambagh police circle on Tuesday by hanging herself. She was identified as Risha Sharma, a resident of ...


    Student depression on the increase
    Independent, UK - 23 hours ago
    Such symptoms can happen frequently or become chronic, affecting everyday life; at its worst, depression can lead to suicide. Depression is a big problem; ...


    Another Great Depression?
    Beliefnet.com, NY - Jul 8, 2008
    But to compare this to the Great Depression is blowing things way, way out of proportion. Even as people have spoken about "recession" for the past year, ...


    Depression led man to become burglar
    Bexhill Observer, UK - 4 hours ago
    DEPRESSION turned an 'upstanding member of the community' into a serial burglar, a court was told. Former window fitter David Blakemore, 29, ...


    Osawatomie Lake Proved To Be A Job Oasis During Depression
    KC Community News, KS - 1 hour ago
    The Great Depression was one of the major events in the 20th century. The United States economy collapsed to the point that the Missouri Pacific Railroad ...


    Veterans and People Who Struggle with Post Traumatic Stress ...
    PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria - 23 minutes ago
    PTSD can lead to depression, ranging from mild to severe, or possibly Not everyone can afford the high cost of mental health treatment. ...


    A 'Depression Era kid' watches every penny
    Chicago Sun-Times, United States - Jul 8, 2008
    "I was a Depression Era kid," says Waltz, who relies on Social Security income and her deceased husband's pension. Bea Waltz, 84, adheres to a strict budget ...

    Depression - Google News

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