Depression is not uncommon after surgery, or even after a diagnosis that leads to surgery. Getting the news that your health isn’t perfect and you need surgery, the financial pressures of obtaining health care, and feeling bad physically can all trigger an episode of depression or make the depression that is already present worse. Individuals with depression that is well controlled may find that they have “breakthrough” symptoms during an illness.
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Illness or Surgery Can Trigger Depressive Symptoms
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that feeling bad emotionally and feeling bad physically often go hand in hand. The big problem is that many people don’t identify what they are feeling as depression—which can be treated in most people—and instead think that they are feeling the effects of their physical illness.
It can be challenging to differentiate between what happens during a typical recovery fromsurgeryand depression symptoms. In fact, many of the symptoms, such asfatigueand irritability, are common when an individual is depressed and during recovery from surgery.
Depression
So what is depression, exactly? Depression is a serious psychological illness that can lead to impaired decision making, difficulty with day to day life, and even lead to physical illness, such as slowing healing in some cases.
Symptoms of depression include:
Signs and Symptoms of DepressionSymptoms of depression include:Eating significantly more or less than is normalSleeping significantly more or less than is normalFatigueIrritabilityDifficulty making decisions, even minor onesLoss of interest in activitiesFeelings of hopelessness and despairFeelings of anxiety, stress, agitation or restlessnessThoughts of harming yourself or suicide—seek immediate helpThoughts of harming others—seek immediate help
Signs and Symptoms of Depression
Symptoms of depression include:Eating significantly more or less than is normalSleeping significantly more or less than is normalFatigueIrritabilityDifficulty making decisions, even minor onesLoss of interest in activitiesFeelings of hopelessness and despairFeelings of anxiety, stress, agitation or restlessnessThoughts of harming yourself or suicide—seek immediate helpThoughts of harming others—seek immediate help
Symptoms of depression include:
Stress cantrigger depression. It can be emotional stress such as a diagnosis of illness or physical stress such as surgery.Physical conditions can also lead to depression. These can include chronic pain, a shortened life expectancy, or radical changes in lifestyle. People with a family history or a personal history of depression may be more likely to develop depression in times of stress or illness.
Depression does not affect everyone in the same way. Being aware of the signs of depression is important so that it can be quickly identified and treated. For some individuals, family and friends may identify the signs of depression before the depressed individual.
Understanding the Signs of Depression in Men
When to Get Help
If you or a loved one experience depression symptoms for two weeks or longer, seek a professional assessment immediately.
Depression and Heart Surgery
4 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.Depression after a cardiac event or diagnosis.
National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.
Pozuelo L.Depression and heart disease. Cleveland Clinic.
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