- A study of more than half a million young adults found that depression is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and poor cardiovascular health.
- People who reported regularly being depressed had a significantly higher risk of heart issues.
- Depression is known to lead to unhealthy behaviors that may affect one’s heart, and having heart problems can lead to depression, a problematic cycle.
A study of over half a million people aged 18 to 49 finds a strong association between depression and cardiovascular disease and poor cardiovascular health.
Study participants who reported having 1 to 13 days of poor mental health in the past 30 days had 1.5 times the cardiovascular disease risk of those reporting no such days.
For those reporting 14 to 30 days of poor mental health, the risk of cardiovascular disease was even higher: 2.3 times the risk of people reporting no such days.
The researchers also found that the connection between depression and heart issues was unaffected by sex or urban/rural location.
According to the
One in five of those in the study reported having depression.
The study suggests that the connection may begin in early adulthood.
The new study appears in the
“Being in a depressive state or feeling down can make one skip a meal or overindulge in comfort foods, have sleep difficulties, smoke, or not want to exercise, and these are all risk factors for poor cardiovascular health and cardiovascular disease,” said the study’s lead author Dr. Yaa A. Kwapong.
The authors noted that the cross-sectional study takes no position on whether depression causes heart problems or that heart problems lead to depression. It is likely both are true, generally.
A person with diagnosed or perceptible heart issues also may gravitate toward similar behaviors.
Dr. Kwapong said…
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