Depression my lead to Heart attack

Here's an article I found about the health risks due to depression,

Depression May Up Heart Attack Risk
Study Shows Depressed Heart Attack Patients Less Likely to Exercise, Raising Their Cardiac Risk

By Caroline Wilbert
WebMD Medical News Reviewed by Elizabeth Klodas, MD,FACC


Nov. 25, 2008 -- Cardiac patients who are depressed are less likely to exercise , which increases their risk of a cardiac event such as a heart attack or heart failure , a new study suggests.

So heart patients who experience depression may be able to lower their cardiac risk simply by getting more physical activity.

It's long been recognized that patients who suffer from depression are more likely to have heart attacks or other cardiac events. But the reason for the association has been unclear. According to the new study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, the higher risk may be due to behavioral factors, especially physical activity levels.

Researchers looked at 1,017 heart disease patients. All were outpatients at clinics in the San Francisco area. They were recruited between 2000 and 2002, and followed until early 2008.

Participants completed a questionnaire to gauge whether or not they had depressive symptoms. Out of the group, 199 had depressive symptoms. The depressed patients were more likely to smoke, were less likely to take their medications as prescribed, and were less physically active.

Among the participants with depression, 10% had a cardiac event during the follow-up period. Among the non-depressed participants, 6.7% had a cardiac event. Cardiac events included heart failure, heart attack, stroke , transient ischemic attack (sometimes referred to as a "mini-stroke"), or death.

Even when the researchers made mathematical adjustments that accounted for other health issues and the severity of heart disease at the outset of the study, the group with depression was still 31% more likely to have a cardiac event than the group without depression. However, when lifestyle factors were also accounted for, there was largely no difference between the likelihood of a cardiac event for the depressed group and for the non-depressed group. In the final statistical model, the researchers found that physical inactivity alone was associated with a 44% greater rate of cardiovascular events.

"These findings raise the hypothesis that the increased risk of cardiovascular events associated with depression could potentially be preventable with behavior modification, especially exercise," the researchers write. "Exercise training can improve both depressive symptoms and markers for cardiovascular risk."

The researchers point out that their study could not discern whether depression led to inactivity or if inactivity led to depression. Regardless, the incorporation of exercise into a comprehensive depression treatment plan may be beneficial to many patients who suffer from both depression and heart disease.

Depression robs people of health and happiness and robs the country of the labor and creativity of many of our fellows.

While depression may have physiological causes due to things like chemical imbalances in the body, there is also another cause, or at least major contributor, to this "silent" thief and killer.

Our society has many problems that aren't being addressed adequately, things like war, the economy, poverty, crime, drugs, lack of education for many, pollution, lack of adequate meaningful rest and recreation for many, etc. Some are getting rich off the suffering of many.

Serious social problems slowly, but inexorably, sap the energy, creativity, and hope of many people, and sometimes makes them physically ill.

Here's a ray of light -- people who take action to fight injustice and other social ills tend to be mentally healthier as a result. So, we should all let our representatives in public office know our opinions and relentlessly pressure them to really earn their pay!

Hey Daka1,
I couldn't agree with you more. +5

Hi Paul and Daka1, thank you both for this information. This information could really help a lot of us. I know I have had depression before and it was a very bad time for me. I almost came to the point of taking my own life when I was 29 years of age. I was going through many different things that lead to depression. I was stressed out all the time from working two jobs,family problems, and boyfriend problems; as well as financial problems too. My health was even bad at the time too and I truly thought I was not going to make it. I finally just had to slow down in my life and make lifestyle changes in order to get out of the depression I was in. It was not very easy though and it did take some time; but I finally made it. So, I know how you feel Paul when you talk about depression and how it affected you. I truly hope that you come out of the depression you have been going through.

12pleaseu,
Thanks for all the wishes. I am feeling better I have been going duck hinting every week and some times 2 or 3 times a week. I feel a lot better and am in a Whole Hell of a lot better shape, condition and mental attitude than I have been in the past few months. On Friday I go to see a Surgeon who specializws in nerve damage and hopefully we can come up with a plan to get me better.

Following are few tips to get out of dipression:
1.Walk or run. Exercise helps your body produce natural antidepressant chemicals.
2.Spend time with people doing something you once enjoyed.
3.Call a friend or relative you've lost touch with.
4.See your family doctor for meds and a possible referral to a therapist.
5.Notice whether you have expectations that set you up for depression - how you think things 'should' be.
6.Be sure to get enough quality sleep - but get up after 8 hours or so.
7.Eat a balanced diet and aim toward moderation in eating.
8.Talk to someone or contact Befrienders.org if you have suicidal thoughts.
9.Pick one or two small tasks that are easily accomplished and do them.
10.Be sure that your surroundings are well lit - consider a S.A.D. light if you get depressed in winter.
11.Consider complementary/alternative treatments - but discuss them with your M.D.
12.Avoid alcohol and street drugs - which can make depression worse.
13.Take a bath or shower, shave, and put on clean clothes.
14.Do yard work or clean the house. This can bring a sense of accomplishment.
15.Do volunteer work. Helping others can boost self-esteem.



Be Happy Be Healthy !!!