During recovery from cardiac surgery, depression can intensify pain, worsen fatigue and sluggishness, or cause a person to withdraw into social isolation.In one landmark study, the continued presence of depression after recovery increased the risk of death (mortality) to 17 percent within 6 months after a heart attack (versus 3 percent mortality in heart attack patients who didn’t have depression).².For people who do not have heart disease, depression can also increase the risk of a heart attack and development of coronary artery disease. For people with heart disease, depression can increase the risk of an adverse cardiac event such as a heart attack or blood clots.Patients with depression have been shown to have increased platelet reactivity, decreased heart variability and increased proinflammatory markers (such as C-reactive protein or CRP), which are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease.Unmanaged stress can lead to high blood pressure, arterial damage, irregular heart rhythms and a weakened immune system.Studies have shown that mental stress has a negative effect on a person’s heart health. Up to 15 percent of patients with cardiovascular disease and up to 20 percent of patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery experience major depression.¹ What is the role of depression in patients with cardiovascular disease? When a depressed mood is severe and accompanied by other symptoms that persist every day for 2 or more weeks, treatment is necessary to help you cope and recover. Sometimes, however, a depressed mood can prevent you from leading a normal life. Temporary feelings of sadness are normal, and should gradually go away within a few weeks, as you get back to your normal routine and activities.
These emotions may be the result of not knowing what to expect or not being able to do simple tasks without becoming overly tired. It is common for you to feel sad or depressed after a heart attack, cardiac surgery or procedure, recent hospitalization, or new diagnosis of heart disease. Stress, anxiety and depression and its impact on Heart Disease
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