Depression After Heart Attack
What can be done to prevent the condition?
Depression may not be preventable. Following are some steps that may be helpful in preventing depression.
Avoid alcohol and illegal drugs.
Avoid cigarette smoking.
Get prompt treatment for other psychiatric disorders.
Seek effective treatment for chronic diseases.
Talk with a counselor if major trauma has been experienced.
Depression can lead to suicide. It is important to recognize and treat the condition early. Individuals should be encouraged to talk to someone if they are concerned about depression. There are many people they can talk to, including the following:
a clergy member
a counselor
a family doctor
a professional at a mental health center
a psychologist
a trusted family member
What are the long-term effects of the condition?
Following a heart attack, people with depression are less healthy and functional than those without depression. Recent research findings include the following:
People who are depressed after a heart attack rate their physical health lower than those who are not depressed.
People with depression after a heart attack report a significantly lower quality of life than nondepressed individuals.
Depression significantly increases a person's risk of dying from heart disease.
Depressed women with chest pain were three times more likely to smoke than other women with chest pain.
Depressed women with chest pain were four times more likely to be impaired in their daily activities than women without depression.
People who have depression are at much higher risk for stroke, further heart attacks, and heart disease than people who don't have depression.
People who suffer from depression after a heart attack are less likely to make the lifestyle changes necessary to decrease the risk of another heart attack. These changes include the following:
getting regular exercise
lowering intake of dietary fat and cholesterol
reducing stress
quitting smoking
What are the risks to others?
Depression is not contagious and poses no risk to others.
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