From brain TO HEART

Depression can lead to cardiovascular diseases in multiple ways

- POOJA BIRAIA JAISWAL

At some point in our lives we have all taken note of that critical, almost symbiotic relationship between our mind and body. The way one responds to and is impacted by the other is seamless. While mental stress can adversely impact the body's appetite and its capacity to perform simple tasks, a happy state of mind can lead to an overall sense of wellbeing.

Mental distress include symptoms such as anxiety, confused emotions, hallucination, bereavement, anger, depression and stress. Although in most cases, say experts, these emotions resolve on their own or with ounselling over a period of time, they may become a trigger for cardiovascular events. Yet, clinically in hospitals or medical clinics, patients with coronary disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure and other cardiovascular problems are rarely assessed for psychological distress or mental illness as a contributor to, or resulting from the cardiovascular problem. One logical argument to establish a connection between people with depression or anxiety and their tendency for developing cardiovascular diseases is that there are certain underlying risk factors—unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and smoking—that are common to both.

According to a paper 'Mental health and cardiovascular disease' in the American Journal of Medicine, “The prevalence of depression in patients with cardiovascular disease is threefold higher than that in the general population. Depression is underdiagnosed in the medical setting.”