Recent News and Articles on the Keywords: depression + heart + disease  Related to the article below (Last Update: 8/5/2008)

Treadmill stress tests are good at predicting the presence of some ... Taipei Times, Taiwan - The test is meant to be used ?almost exclusively? for people who have symptoms of heart disease, Miller emphasized. ?But in the real world,? he said, ... Taking Depression to Heart U.S. News & World Report, DC - Aug 1, 2008 1 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have long observed a link between depression and heart disease. Now there's research to help pinpoint the symptoms of ... Matria Healthcare Provides Critical Support to New Moms Through ... MarketWatch - The Company manages major chronic diseases and episodic conditions including diabetes, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, asthma, ... HealthJockey.com Depression could primarily cause cardiovascular trouble HealthJockey.com, India - Aug 4, 2008 Hopefully, an added bonus will be to reduce the risk of developing or suffering from heart disease.? Even though a review of epidemiologic data, ... CityNews Depressed women at greater risk for heart disease Globe and Mail, Canada - Jul 17, 2008 It was the first time the interplay between depression and heart disease among Canadians had been studied at a national level. "Men can still get heart ... Depressed women have greater risk of heart disease CTV.ca Depression Heart Link For Women Shown Ontario Now Depression in women a heart risk Toronto Sun Washington Post - CBC.ca all 91 news articles » New Reasons to Love Your Toothbrush Reader's Digest, NY - Medical research has revealed the dangers of tooth decay and gum disease, including heart disease, low birth weight in babies, dangerous and even deadly ... CASTLE Data Showed Boosted REYATAZ(R) (atazanavir sulfate) and ... MarketWatch - In patients with liver disease, including hepatitis B or C, the liver disease may get worse when taking anti-HIV medicines like REYATAZ. ... Source of omega-3? Not all fish are equal South Bend Tribune, IN - The American Heart Associa-tion recommends eating fatty fish at least twice a week. Those with heart disease should get about 1 ? ounces of fish per day. ... Study finds heart disease, depression link Vancouver Sun,  Canada - Jul 17, 2008 OTTAWA -- Women are at a higher risk for heart disease if they also suffer from depression, according to a new Statistics Canada study released Wednesday. ... Heart and Stroke Foundation (press release) Women with depression may face higher heart disease risk Heart and Stroke Foundation (press release), Canada - Jul 28, 2008 A new study from Statistics Canada shows that depression is associated with an increased risk of heart disease in women. However, there is no apparent link ...

Perhaps you are aware of the fact that heart disease represents the leading killer in the United States.

In 2003, the most recent year for which we have data, 71 million Americans were estimated to have a cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, heart failure, stroke, coronary artery disease and hypertension. That means 1 in 3 adult men and women had some form of heart disease. More than 6 million hospitalizations were due to these conditions. And nearly 1 million deaths were the result, making heart disease the cause of 1 death out of every 2.7 in the U.S.

What you may not realize is that depression has been estimated to be the world's number one cause of disability. Data from a study of global disease burden, conducted by the World Health Organization, World Bank and Harvard University, show that major depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide among people 5 years of age and older. How can that be so? Because depression is common, chronic and often interferes with productivity.

Nearly 10 percent of American adults will experience depressive illness in a given year, which goes far beyond the sadness we all feel as a result of loss. Prolonged sad mood, loss of interest or pleasure, insomnia or excessive sleeping, disproportionate feelings of guilt, loss of energy and difficulty concentrating are the hallmarks of clinical depression, and whilesometimes opaque to loved ones and co-workers, these symptoms often add up to impaired work or school functioning as well as difficulty in relationships.

Episodes, lasting weeks at a time or longer, re-emerge regularly for many if not most people suffering from depression, reappearing annually or more often. For some, the symptoms never completely recede. For some, the illness proves deadly. Each year, 25,000 or more Americans with depressive illness commit suicide.

A truly heartbreaking reality is that depression and heart disease often coexist.

One-quarter to one-third or more of all patients with heart disease also experience depression. In fact, people who experience depression are more likely to develop heart disease, and depression in heart patients not only causes suffering due to the symptoms of depression but increases the odds of an adverse cardiac outcome. For example, people with depression are much more likely to die in the first six months following a heart attack than patients who are not depressed.

More than 100 studies have shown the devastating link between heart disease and depression. The nature of the link is not altogether clear, although there are several interesting research results reported in the medical literature. Stress hormones appear to trigger depression through altered brain functioning as well as exacerbate heart disease. Many markers of cardiac conditions, including increased blood clotting and inflammation, also have been measured in depression. Certainly the stress of a heart attack or other cardiac condition may trigger depression just as depressive symptoms may reduce a heart patient adherence to doctor's orders and lead to worsening cardiac disease.

Whatever the nature of the relationship between depression and heart disease, steps can and should be taken to help cardiac patients with depression. Straightforward screening tools exist that can readily identify individuals experiencing depressive symptoms. Effective treatments exist for depression, including medications and forms of psychotherapy. Studies suggest effective depression treatment not only relieves depressive symptoms, but also improves cardiovascular outcomes.

Unfortunately, cardiologists often fail to screen their patients for depression let alone prescribe or make a referral for treatment, contrary to current American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association treatment guidelines.

No doubt cardiologists and their staff face many challenges in providing cardiovascular care. But depression screening can be fairly easily integrated into routine cardiac care. And as with diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also common in heart disease, cardiologists can initiate treatment or refer the patient to their family doctor or a counselor for depression therapy.

All of us can and should play a role in improving depression and cardiac care. We must stop abiding the ongoing stigma that still overshadows depression. Stigma causes far too many patients to suffer their symptoms in silence. It isolates too many families, who struggle alone to understand what is happening to their loved one. Stigma leads too many physicians to avoid the subject of depression entirely, for fear of offending their patients.

We can destigmatize depression by responding to reports of depression as we would to any serious medical condition - with sympathy and support. We can work to have sound information available in our churches and civic centers, increasing awareness about this condition.

There are so many resources in our community that provide health advice and support, such as ways to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, through a healthy diet, exercise, smoking cessation and the recognition and treatment of early warning signs. Depression awareness needs to be included in these public health efforts. And if you are afraid that you or one of your loved ones is experiencing depression, do not be afraid to ask your doctor or a counselor about it. It may save you a serious heartbreak.

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Laura Lee Hall, Ph.D., of Annapolis, is the Manager of Scientific Affairs at INNOVIA Education Institute, headquartered in Columbia. INNOVIA is an employee-owned company that provides continuing medical education.