Depression and Heart Disease: What's the Link?
By Brandi Swieter
Depression and heart disease are two standalone diseases that have the ability to impact both men and women. While people may have predetermining factors for both, such as poor health and habits, they can also both occur without much warning. There has even been a link found between the two, with depression cause for heart disease or heart disease leading to depression.
Poor Heart Health Can Lead to Depression
Someone who has a heart attack will have to take time to recover. They won’t be able to work, get up and about without much help, or handle daily tasks that once came easy. It will take some time to recuperate. This can lead many people to feel depressed. Their confidence may plummet. They may start to feel as if they are a burden to their family. They might even have feelings of guilt and self-doubt, especially if they ate unhealthily or smoked which contributed to their heart attack. The debilitating anxiety about this event can quickly turn to a depressive mood and thoughts.
Overlapping Symptoms
There are some overlapping symptoms of both heart disease and depression. While one person may feel tired, overwhelmed, and have a hard time sleeping, indicating depression, another person may have a hard time sleeping, feel overwhelmed, and be constantly tired, indicating heart disease. With the same symptoms possible with both diseases, individuals need careful doctor assessments to ensure which it is they need to treat.
Depressed People Develop Heart Disease at a Higher Rate
Those who suffer from depression seem to be among a higher rate of people who go on to develop heart disease. Their feelings of loneliness, low self worth, and lack of energy often lead to unhealthy habits. They may start drinking or smoking, eating unhealthy foods to help them cope, and stay inside more often without getting any exercise. Each of these leads to poor health, which in turn can cause heart health to deteriorate.
Both heart disease and depression can occur at separate times, but they can also occur in correlation to one another. Any individuals feeling symptoms of depression should speak with a doctor about their heart health. Those with poor heart health should focus on their mental health as well to prevent symptoms of depression from taking over. The goal is to focus on overall health for better well-being.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Meridian, Idaho.