Depression and the Heart
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Depression and the Heart
Depression is a common mental illness that affects millions of people around the world. While it is not contagious, treatment is available to most people. Talk therapy and medication can help most people with depression. If left untreated, it can lead to poorer quality of life, isolation, and even suicidal thoughts. In fact, depression affects approximately 5% of the adult population in the world. Age is also a major risk factor for depression, with rates being higher in older adults.
A heart patient may experience occasional feelings of sadness or depressed mood. Severe depression that interferes with daily activities, increases negative thoughts, or tears are signs that treatment is needed. Additionally, heart disease patients who suffer from depression are at a greater risk for heart attacks and coronary diseases. A health care provider can diagnose depression and prescribe safe antidepressants. If treatment is needed, a health care provider can refer you to a specialist for further treatment.
If you’re concerned that you might be suffering from depression, talk to your family and friends. Ask them for support and guidance, and don’t be afraid to seek professional help. If you’ve tried self-help methods without any success, consider seeking counseling or medication. Remember that depression is a very common mental illness, and there’s no reason to feel ashamed. When treatment is initiated early, it’s more likely to be effective. For example, talk therapy can address negative thoughts and low moods, and teach people coping skills.
Similarly, unmanaged stress can affect the heart. The increased risk of heart attacks in depressed individuals may increase the incidence of coronary artery disease, especially if they don’t exercise regularly. Other risk factors for cardiovascular disease include low levels of physical activity, smoking, and increased cholesterol. In some cases, depression may also affect a person’s heart’s ability to perform daily tasks. The study was conducted on 350,000 veterans. It took researchers more than five years to gather enough data to draw conclusions about the relationship between depression and poor health behaviors.
If you feel that you’re suffering from depression, seek medical treatment for the condition. Your doctor may refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Mental health professionals may ask questions about the nature of your depression and whether you’re taking any medications that might be helpful. A medical diagnosis is important if you want to improve your life and avoid future depressed feelings. You might be surprised by how much help you can get from the help of a mental health professional.
Major depression affects 14.8 million adult Americans. Symptoms of major depression may include back pain, anger, and workaholism. Although the symptoms of depression are usually self-reported, doctors may require additional testing before they can confirm the diagnosis of major depression. Psychiatrists often prescribe antidepressants for those with the disorder. A diagnosis can be made with a depression test. However, not all online tests will be accurate.
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