How Does Depression Affect the Heart and Risk Factors for Heart Disease?
Depression may directly or indirectly affect the heart in many ways. Researchers believe the following may occur as a result of depression:
Depression may also increase the levels of stress hormones, including cortisol and adrenaline. As high levels of stress hormones are signaling a "fight or flight" reaction, the body's metabolism is diverted away from the type of tissue repair needed in heart disease.
Why Is Depression Underdiagnosed in Heart Disease Patients?
Despite the enormous advances in
depression research in the past 20 years, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated. For a couple of reasons, this is even more common in people with
heart disease. For example, when people with heart disease show
signs of depression, their families and friends -- and even their healthcare providers -- may mistake them for inevitable accompaniments to heart disease.
It is also possible that
symptoms of depression may overlap with those of heart disease and other physical illnesses. However, skilled health professionals will recognize the symptoms of depression. They will also inquire about their duration and severity, diagnose the disorder, and suggest appropriate treatment.
Previous
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print