The Link Between Depression and Cardiovascular Disease: Study Finds High Risk for Poor Mental Health Perception

(Taiwan English News/Comprehensive Report by the Medical Group) Being in a high-pressure mood for a long time will not only easily lead to depression, but may also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease! According to a study published in the “Journal of the American Heart Association” in January 2023, depression is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and poor cardiovascular health. People who perceive poor mental health have a significantly higher risk of heart problems. high.

The study was conducted by scholars at Johns Hopkins University. The research team analyzed self-reported data from more than half a million young adults aged 18 to 49 in a nationally representative survey in the United States from 2017 to 2020, including “whether they have ever been told that they have Depression”, “Number of days in the past month when you felt that your mental health was poor”, “Have you ever experienced a heart attack, stroke, or chest pain”, and “Have you had cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, Smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, insufficient fruit and vegetable intake, depression…etc”.

It was found that in the past 30 days, those who felt that they had “1 to 13 days of poor mental health” had a risk of cardiovascular disease that was 1.5 times that of “people without mental health problems”; Those with poor mental health conditions had a 2.3 times higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than those without mental health problems. The study also found that the association between depression and heart problems was independent of gender or urban or rural location.

Zhan Jiazhen, Director of the General Psychiatry Department of Zhongxing Branch of Taipei United Hospital, said that many studies in the past have confirmed that depression increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular disease also increases the risk of depression. for causality.

Zhan Jiazhen explained that people with depression or poor mental health usually have poor diet and sleep status, and are more likely to have unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking or too much sedentary life, which are the risks of cardiovascular disease Factors may also directly cause damage to the heart through the excitation of stress hormones or sympathetic nerves.

The results of the study also show that people who are told that they have depression have the highest rate of cardiovascular disease, and improving the mental health of young adults can help reduce the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. attention.

Ye Yaxin, director of the Mental Health Center of the Dong Foundation, said that when you are depressed or have emotional disorders, it will increase stress hormones, cause inflammation, affect the balance of glucose and lipids, and comfort with more bad habits, such as the original People who know how to smoke and drink alcohol tend to smoke more aggressively and drink more, which will lead to cardiovascular disease over time.

In view of the fact that maintaining mental health can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, it is recommended that young people establish the habit of “emotional awareness” and “stress relief”. Anxiety or irritability may be warning signs of excessive life pressure. At this time, it is necessary to find out the source of stress, understand how it affects you, and examine and adjust it.

At the same time, develop the habit of building up stress relief. In addition to listening to music and exercising, you may also wish to watch dramas. From the dramas, you can see different life styles. When your mental state is not good, you can temporarily transfer negative emotions and don’t feel like chasing dramas. It seems so useless and guilty.

Ye Yaxin reminded that if the situation continues to fail to improve and affects life, it is recommended to actively seek the assistance of a professional physician or psychologist. In addition, establishing a healthy social network, whether it is physical or online emotional support, is conducive to mental health.