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Heart Sick and Feeling Blue? Depression After a Heart Attack February is American Heart Health Month and an ideal time to highlight the little-known relationship between heart disease and depression. Statistics indicate that depression is three times more likely following a heart attack. This means that 15% to 20% of heart attack patients compared to 6.7% of adults in the general population have depression. And those with depression after a heart attack are more likely to have another heart attack. Factors such as poor medication compliance, smoking, inactivity, and increased stress hormones contribute to poor prognosis after a heart attack, and these issues also emerge for people who are depressed. Because decreased energy, sleep issues, and appetite changes are not uncommon following a heart attack, people might think these symptoms are just "normal," and in fact they might be. "But depression can decrease motivation to engage in healing behaviors," says Dr. Sue Ei, a licensed psychologist in Bloomsburg, PA, "and this could lead to another heart attack. So it's important to consider whether your symptoms are just a normal response to a health crisis, or if you could be depressed. Even those with no history of depression can experience depression symptoms." Depression should only be diagnosed by a mental health or medical provider, but the following checklist can help you consider whether depression might be a problem.
Ask your healthcare provider to evaluate you for depression, or request a referral to a psychologist or other mental health practitioner. The good news is that treating your depression can help you regain the energy and motivation you need to make healthy lifestyle changes and reduce heart attack risk. The Pennsylvania Psychological Association offers these suggestions:
For more information about depression and heart health, check out these resources:
To learn more about mind/body health, visit the Pennsylvania Psychological Association's website, www.papsy.org, and the American Psychological Association's Consumer Help Center at www.APAhelpcenter.org. ![]() |
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