Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe LinkRisksTreatment OptionsPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Link
Risks
Treatment Options
Prevention
Your mental and physical health are closely connected, and research has established a bidirectional relationship between depression and heart disease, where one condition can affect the other (and vice versa).
Aheart diseasediagnosis often increases stress, putting additional strain on your heart. Conversely, depression can lead to unhealthy eating habits and reduced physical activity, further burdening the heart and other body systems.
This article explores the relationship between depression and heart disease, including strategies for treating and managing these conditions together.
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Connection Between Depression and Heart Disease
Depressioncan interfere with self-care, leading to behaviors that increase the risk of heart-related issues. These behaviors include:
Additionally, the stress associated with depression can result in high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, reduced blood flow to the heart, and elevatedcortisollevels. These factors can contribute to arterial calcium buildup,metabolic disorders, and heart disease.
Women Face a Higher RiskWomen with depression are more likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, all risk factors for heart disease. Additionally, estrogen, a cardioprotective hormone, decreases during menopause, which may contribute to the heart disease risk.
Women Face a Higher Risk
Women with depression are more likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, all risk factors for heart disease. Additionally, estrogen, a cardioprotective hormone, decreases during menopause, which may contribute to the heart disease risk.
Depression and heart disease have a complex link because each condition can worsen or lead to the development of the other. Understanding this connection is essential for receiving appropriate care.
Depression Before Heart Disease
People with no history of heart disease who are diagnosed with depression have a higher risk of developing heart disease due to the impact of stress and inflammation on cardiovascular health.
Depression also influences your health habits and may make it less likely that you will eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and take any necessary medications. People who smoke may do so more or delay quitting when they experience stress.
These factors strain the heart and could compromise your body’s ability to repair and sustain cardiovascular function.
Depression After Heart Episode
Experiencing a cardiac event—such as a heart attack, stroke, or heart surgery—can lead to depression, even in people with no history of mental illness.
Recovery often involves significant lifestyle changes. Fear of the event recurring and impaired physical capabilities can significantly impact your mental health. These factors can lead to behaviors that stress your heart more, decreasing the chance of a full recovery.
Heart disease and depression are entwined. Early awareness, access to support services, and open communication with your healthcare provider are key factors in healing the heart and the mind.—ANISHA SHAH, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Heart disease and depression are entwined. Early awareness, access to support services, and open communication with your healthcare provider are key factors in healing the heart and the mind.
—ANISHA SHAH, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Treatment to Manage Depression With Heart Disease
Options for managing depression are the same with or without heart disease. A healthcare provider will decide if psychotherapy, medications, or a combination of both are best for you.
Other things you can do to relieve depression include exercise, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding alcohol.Always check with a healthcare provider before taking up exercise if you are recovering from heart problems.
How Anxiety Impacts Heart DiseaseAnxiety can have a profound impact on your body’s physiology. Anyone who has experienced anxiety or a panic attack is familiar with the following symptoms: shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, and even chest pains. These physical reactions put a strain on the heart and can be even more dangerous for someone with diagnosed heart disease.
How Anxiety Impacts Heart Disease
Anxiety can have a profound impact on your body’s physiology. Anyone who has experienced anxiety or a panic attack is familiar with the following symptoms: shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, and even chest pains. These physical reactions put a strain on the heart and can be even more dangerous for someone with diagnosed heart disease.
How to Prevent Heart Disease
Some risk factors for heart disease include age, sex, and family history.While you can’t control these factors, you canminimize or eliminate many other risksthrough lifestyle changes to safeguard your heart and boost overall health and well-being. They include:
Maintaining mental health is vital to heart disease prevention. Find activities that you enjoy and surround yourself with supportive friends and family. Taking small steps can lead to significant improvements in your mental and physical health.
Summary
Heart disease and depression are closely linked. Managing depression through therapy and antidepressant medication can positively impact heart health and overall well-being. If you are diagnosed with heart disease, be aware of your feelings and contact your healthcare provider if your depression symptoms don’t improve or worsen.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.How does depression affect the heart.MedlinePlus.Heart disease and depression.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heart disease and mental health.Senoo K, Kaneko H, Ueno K, et al.Sex differences in the association between depression and incident cardiovascular disease.JACC: Asia.2024;4(4):279-288. doi: 10.1016/j.jacasi.2023.11.015Sher LD, Geddie H, Olivier L, et al.Chronic stress and endothelial dysfunction: mechanisms, experimental challenges, and the way ahead.Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020;319(2):H488-H506. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00244.2020Johns Hopkins Medicine.Depression and heart disease.MedlinePlus.Antidepressants.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anxiety and heart disease.MedlinePlus.How to prevent heart disease.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.How does depression affect the heart.MedlinePlus.Heart disease and depression.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heart disease and mental health.Senoo K, Kaneko H, Ueno K, et al.Sex differences in the association between depression and incident cardiovascular disease.JACC: Asia.2024;4(4):279-288. doi: 10.1016/j.jacasi.2023.11.015Sher LD, Geddie H, Olivier L, et al.Chronic stress and endothelial dysfunction: mechanisms, experimental challenges, and the way ahead.Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020;319(2):H488-H506. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00244.2020Johns Hopkins Medicine.Depression and heart disease.MedlinePlus.Antidepressants.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anxiety and heart disease.MedlinePlus.How to prevent heart disease.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Heart Association.How does depression affect the heart.MedlinePlus.Heart disease and depression.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heart disease and mental health.Senoo K, Kaneko H, Ueno K, et al.Sex differences in the association between depression and incident cardiovascular disease.JACC: Asia.2024;4(4):279-288. doi: 10.1016/j.jacasi.2023.11.015Sher LD, Geddie H, Olivier L, et al.Chronic stress and endothelial dysfunction: mechanisms, experimental challenges, and the way ahead.Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020;319(2):H488-H506. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00244.2020Johns Hopkins Medicine.Depression and heart disease.MedlinePlus.Antidepressants.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anxiety and heart disease.MedlinePlus.How to prevent heart disease.
American Heart Association.How does depression affect the heart.
MedlinePlus.Heart disease and depression.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heart disease and mental health.
Senoo K, Kaneko H, Ueno K, et al.Sex differences in the association between depression and incident cardiovascular disease.JACC: Asia.2024;4(4):279-288. doi: 10.1016/j.jacasi.2023.11.015
Sher LD, Geddie H, Olivier L, et al.Chronic stress and endothelial dysfunction: mechanisms, experimental challenges, and the way ahead.Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020;319(2):H488-H506. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00244.2020
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Depression and heart disease.
MedlinePlus.Antidepressants.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anxiety and heart disease.
MedlinePlus.How to prevent heart disease.
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