People who suffer from depression are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a study of more than half a million young adults. The more severe the depression, the greater the dangers to the heart.
Depressed adultPhoto: Liubomyr Vorona / Alamy / Alamy / Profimedia
In recent years, more and more research has pointed to a close link between two conditions with a very high incidence among the adult population: cardiovascular diseases and depression. The first of them is the leading cause of mortality in the world, and depression is the most common mental health disorder. right data from the World Health Organization, 5% of the global population is affected by depression.
It is the leading cause of disability worldwide. A study of more than half a million people between the ages of 18 and 49 confirms the correlation between depression and heart health. Depressive disorder is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, according to research published in Journal of the American Heart Association, the journal of the American Heart Association. Study participants who reported between one and 13 days of depression in the past 30 days had a 1.5 times higher risk of heart disease than those who did not experience depression.
The longer the depression, the higher the risk of heart disease, according to the study. Thus, in participants who reported between 14 and 30 days of depression-specific symptoms, the cardiovascular risk was 2.3 times higher. One in 5 participants reported experiencing depression, and the link with cardiovascular problems identified by the researchers was independent of gender and living environment (urban/rural).
Depression affects our behaviors
Depression leads to unhealthy behaviors that affect heart health, according to American Heart Association doctors. “A depressed or depressed state can cause a person to skip meals, lead to emotional, compulsive eating, sleep disturbances, smoking or refusal to engage in physical activities, all of which are risk factors for cardiovascular health precarious and for cardiovascular diseases”, he explained in an interview for Medical News Today Dr. Yaa A. Kwapong, study coordinator.
Heart conditions, in turn, affect emotional balance, as in a vicious circle. People who suffer from heart disease are more prone to depression, the American researchers also observed in their study.
Depression has a direct impact on the heart
It’s not just the unhealthy behaviors adopted by depressed people that increase the risk of heart disease. Depression also affects the cardiovascular system through a direct mechanism, says Dr. Kwapong.
“Physiologically, depression and other mood disorders increase stress hormones, inflammation in the body, and glucose and lipid metabolism. All of them can lead, over time, to the appearance of cardiovascular diseases”, explains the specialist. Early treatment of depression, from the first symptoms, can prevent the onset of heart disease, says the specialist. The doctor encourages depressed youth to seek specialist help to reduce their risks and recommends that doctors monitoring these patients periodically assess their cardiovascular health.
