{"id":18997,"date":"2021-02-16T09:30:57","date_gmt":"2021-02-16T14:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=18997"},"modified":"2025-06-04T12:57:59","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T16:57:59","slug":"depression-and-heart-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/depression-and-heart-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Are depression and heart disease connected?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ve likely heard that obesity, smoking, and diabetes increase the likelihood of cardiovascular problems. Ditto with high cholesterol, advanced age, and family history. Now there\u2019s another big risk factor for heart disease, and it\u2019s one that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/depression-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17.3 million adult Americans<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> live with: depression.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression, a condition characterized by prolonged feelings of sadness and a loss of interest in once pleasurable activities, has profound <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/depression-caused-by-physical-illness\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">effects on the body<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It can cause loss of energy, changes in appetite, sleep disruptions, difficulty concentrating, and\u2014more and more studies are finding\u2014heart disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has found that adults with depression have a 64% greater chance of developing heart disease than people without depression. Other studies put the risk at closer to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">80%<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. What\u2019s more, people with depression and heart disease have a 59% greater risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease than their nondepressed counterparts. The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Heart Association<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (AHA) now recommends that cardiac patients be screened for depression.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression may even be as important a risk factor for heart attack as diabetes, smoking, hypertension, and obesity are, suggests <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochesterregional.org\/physician-directory\/c\/corteville-david\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">David Corteville, MD<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a clinical cardiologist at Rochester Regional Health\u2019s Sands-Constellation Heart Institute.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"is-depression-associated-with-heart-disease\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is depression associated with heart disease?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How can your mental health affect your heart health? Scientists think there may be a variety of ways.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lifestyle factors: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s no big surprise that it\u2019s hard to stay motivated to eat well and exercise when you\u2019re feeling down. People with depression may be more likely than those in the general population to overeat and not exercise. And we know that obesity and inactivity are two driving forces of heart disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6658985\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Inflammation<\/b><\/a><b>:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Depression produces low-grade inflammation in the body. That inflammation can narrow arteries and make it more likely that plaque (cholesterol deposits in the arteries) will break away from the arterial walls, thereby clogging vessels and interrupting the flow of blood to the heart. Oxidative stress and autonomic dysfunction (which are both increased in the depressed) are also implicated in the multifactorial reason for increased risk of heart disease in the depressed.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Platelet clumping:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Platelets are tiny cells in the blood that are necessary for blood clotting. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/11011349\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shows that people with depression tend to have more \u201creactive\u201d platelets, meaning they\u2019re more likely to form clots that impede blood flow to the heart.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Heart arrhythmias:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Depression seems to increase one\u2019s chance of developing atrial fibrillation, an <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">irregular heartbeat<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Scientists aren\u2019t exactly sure why, but they suspect the increased levels of inflammation often seen in people with depression may be a factor.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"can-heart-disease-cause-depression\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can heart disease cause depression?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a life-threatening condition like heart disease, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/fastats\/leading-causes-of-death.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the number-one killer in America<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, is bound to take its toll on anyone\u2019s mental health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAn estimated 20% [of people with heart disease] have depression and as many as two thirds have depression after a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/cardiac-arrest-vs-heart-attack\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">heart attack<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,\u201d says <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthspanmd.com\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Todd Hurst, MD<\/a>,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a cardiologist with Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. \u201cThis is likely due to multiple causes, such as social isolation, pain, being ill, lower functional status, fear, anxiety, and uncertainty.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s also an increased risk for depression after heart surgery. \u201cThirty to 40% of these patients develop depression,\u201d comments Dr. Corteville. \u201cThat\u2019s higher than the general population.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another possible factor in post heart attack depression? Some studies point to the very drugs used to treat heart disease. \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/drug-classes\/beta-blockers\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beta blockers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [drugs used to lower blood pressure and control the body\u2019s stress hormone adrenaline] such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/atenolol\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">atenolol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/metoprolol-tartrate\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">metoprolol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/carvedilol\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and carvedilol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have been associated with an increased risk for depression in some studies, but not all,\u201d says Dr. Hurst. More research is needed before any definite conclusions are drawn. Beta blockers decrease a patient\u2019s maximal heart rate and may decrease resting heart rate, which can make patients feel sluggish and mentally down.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And while beta blockers may increase the risk of depression, it\u2019s important to note that their benefits can outweigh their risks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBeta blockers have been strongly demonstrated to reverse heart failure, and every 10 mmHg drop in systolic pressure will decrease the probability of a heart attack and stroke by about 50%,\u201d explains <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/health.tamu.edu\/care\/providers\/carl-tong.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carl Tong, MD, Ph.D.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a cardiologist and associate professor at Texas A&amp;M University College of Medicine<\/span><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\t\t<div class=\"singlecare-dynamic-newsletter-wrapper sin-newsletter-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"heading\">Get our heart health newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t\t<form class=\"form-wrapper\" data-newsletter-form=\"1\" data-subsource=\"Wordpress Newsletter\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"dynamic-email\">Email<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"email\" id=\"dynamic-email\" class=\"email\" required>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"submit-form-btn\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Click to sign up\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"success-message\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"does-treating-depression-reduce-the-risk-of-heart-disease\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Does treating depression reduce the risk of heart disease?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It stands to reason then, that if you control depression, you decrease the risk of heart disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In one study, people with depression who were treated with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/depression-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants or therapy<\/span><\/a> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">before <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">developing heart disease symptoms lowered their risk of having a cardiac event by 48%.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/drug-classes\/ssris\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, [a class of antidepressants] have been shown to be safe and effective in cardiac patients,\u201d says Dr. Corteville. \u201cMany cardiac patients are on multiple medications and we need to consider drug-drug interactions. Among the SSRIs, those with the fewest drug-drug interactions are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/escitalopram-oxalate\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">escitalopram<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/sertraline-hcl\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sertraline<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/wellbutrin-sr\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wellbutrin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has also been shown to be safe as well.\u201d Most SSRIs are dosed once a day, known to be safe, and have been used for decades.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be the most effective in treating depression and should be considered a first-line therapy. CBT is a form of psychotherapy that helps people reframe negative thoughts or emotions into more positive ones. \u201cCombining CBT with an SSRI has been shown to be more effective [in treating depression] than using just one or the other,\u201d explains Dr. Corteville. \u201cTreatment of depression reduces the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/signs-of-a-stroke\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stroke<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and death.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"reducing-your-risk-of-depression-and-heart-disease\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reducing your risk of depression and heart disease<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reducing your risk of any serious health condition often comes down to what healthcare providers call \u201cLife\u2019s Simple 7:\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/depression-diet\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eat a healthy diet<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/exercise-and-chronic-disease\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be physically active<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-quit-smoking\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quit smoking<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ways-to-manage-high-blood-pressure-medication\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Control blood pressure<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/normal-blood-glucose-levels\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep blood sugar in check<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-to-lower-cholesterol\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintain healthy cholesterol levels<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/heart-healthy-diet\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stay within a healthy weight range<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (a BMI of 20-25)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cConsistent aerobic exercise has been demonstrated to be as effective as taking an antidepressant,\u201d says Dr. Tong. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.org\/en\/healthy-living\/fitness\/fitness-basics\/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AHA recommends<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week (brisk walking, for example) or 75 minutes of intense exercise weekly. In addition, activity helps with blood pressure, blood sugar, and a healthy weight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cResearch shows an 80% decrease in heart attacks and a 50% decrease in stroke in those who optimize all seven factors compared to those who don&#8217;t,\u201d Dr. Hurst says. \u201cThis applies to all of us, whether we have depression or not. However, treating depression would likely make it easier for someone to change their lifestyle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have depression, make sure you\u2019re evaluated for heart disease. And if you have heart disease, make sure you\u2019re <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/depression-screening\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">screened for depression<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Depression and heart disease often go hand in hand and effectively treating each with the proper heart medications, antidepressants, and CBT can improve your overall quality of life\u2014physically and mentally.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve likely heard that obesity, smoking, and diabetes increase the likelihood of cardiovascular problems. Ditto with high cholesterol, advanced age, and family history. Now there\u2019s another big risk factor for heart disease, and it\u2019s one that 17.3 million adult Americans live with: depression. Depression, a condition characterized by prolonged feelings of sadness and a loss [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":626611,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8029],"tags":[451,737],"coauthors":[10462],"class_list":["post-18997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-education","tag-depression","tag-heart-health","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Are depression and heart disease connected?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Adults with depression have an 80% greater chance of developing heart disease. 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