Mental Health And Coronary Heart Disease: How Do Anxiety And Depression Affect Your Heart?

Are you feeling depressed or anxious and after you have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease? Know that you are not alone. Studies have shown that anxiety, depression, and coronary heart disease commonly occur together. The good news is that depression and anxiety can be treated effectively, much like any other disease. By carefully monitoring your condition, you can live your life free of anxiety and depression.

Why does depression frequently occur in patients with coronary heart disease?

Shared risk factors

There is evidence to suggest that depression is actually a risk factor for heart disease, along with smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Depression also leads to a higher risk of other factors associated with heart disease. As an example, people with clinical depression are more likely to smoke, have diabetes, and be obese.

Depression leads to worse outcomes

Patients with depression have worse outcomes with regards to their heart health for several reasons, including:

• Depression affects coronary heart disease patients' recovery and leads to a higher risk of developing other heart problems such as a heart attack.
• Depression is known to lead to a slower recovery from heart surgery.
• Depressed patients are worse at taking their medications than non-depressed people, and failing to take medications can be very dangerous.

Why does anxiety frequently occur in patients with coronary heart disease?

There is limited research on the link between anxiety and heart disease, though evidence suggests that anxiety is a risk factor for the development of a heart attack and other cardiac-related events. People with anxiety are also much more likely to develop depression, which has a strong link to heart disease.

There is some evidence that experiencing a traumatic event can lead to anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular disease. This could also be a reason why all three diseases frequently occur simultaneously.

How are anxiety and depression treated?

There is no universal way to treat anxiety and depression, as every person is different and will respond differently to various therapies. This is particularly true to for people with heart disease along with anxiety and depression, as your team of doctors will need to develop a coordinated approach to tackle all problems.

For patients suffering from both depression and cardiac disease, these treatments may be considered:

• Physical exercise to help treat mild anxiety and depression.
• Cardiac rehabilitation programs.
• Psychological therapy, which can not only help you recover but also prevents the re-occurrence of anxiety or depression. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches people how to re-evaluate their thinking. Additionally, interpersonal therapy (IPT) helps people find new avenues deal with conflicts.
• Medication, including antidepressants, can help treat moderate to severe depression and anxiety. Antidepressants include SSRIs, which are safe to take for people with heart disease. However, there are several choices for antidepressants and you should talk to your doctor about picking the right one. You may also find that you need to switch your medication.

Importantly, you need to be in regular contact with a health professional who can closely monitor your condition and determine whether your conditions are being treated appropriately. The best way to treat severe depression and anxiety is psychological therapy alongside medication use. You should not ever suddenly stop taking your antidepressant medication. If you want to stop taking the medication, you need to do so gradually and under the supervision of your doctor.

Who should I talk to about my depression and anxiety?

You should talk to your family doctor if you find yourself feeling depressed or anxious. Your family doctor will likely administer some tests and then give you a diagnosis of anxiety or depression. They will then discuss the potential treatments that you can take alongside your heart medication. They can also refer you to a psychologist.

How to cope with depression, anxiety, and heart disease

Patients can also take steps to improve their mood on their own:

• Be kind to yourself, especially if you have just been diagnosed with heart disease.
• Reach out to the people in your life that you love and who have you helped you cope with hard problems in the past. This can include your family, friends or professionals.
• Know that you are not alone. Depression and anxiety are common, especially among people who have recently experienced a traumatic health event such as a heart attack.
• Find a support group. You may find it helpful to talk to someone who has gone through the very thing you are going through, which can be found in support groups. You may also find it relieving to share your experience.
• Educate yourself about all your diseases, including anxiety and depression. Knowledge is power and the more you know, the better you will be able to cope with these problems.
• Look into joining a cardiac rehabilitation program, in which you will be educated about your disease, risk factors and the types of lifestyle changes you will have to make to live a healthy life.
• Start exercising. Even mild exercise such as walking or climbing stairs can make a difference when it comes to anxiety and depression.
• Follow your doctor’s advice closely and take your medication as prescribed, on time.
• Sit down with your doctor and develop a mental health plan.
• Become more involved in social activities.
• Try limiting alcohol, tobacco and caffeine as much as possible.