Heart Attack and Depression

10/03/08 Disease Basics

Any heart attack survivor can tell you about the emotional upheaval a heart attack causes the patient and his or her loved ones. At first, after my heart attack, I was elated; I had survived and felt lucky. However, as the weeks and months passed, I found myself filled with anxiety about the future and my health. I was sad and would cry unexpectedly. I moved through a fog where highs and lows didn’t exist.

It took a while to figure out what was happening to me. I wish someone would have asked me simple questions about my emotional state when I had blood draw or a follow-up visit with my doctor. It would have saved me months of aggravation.

It was a relief when I finally discovered what I was feeling had a name: depression.

Depression is common in heart patients. Emotional upheaval, sometimes difficult lifestyle changes, and medications, such as beta blockers, all factor into the condition. The frightening thing, however, is depression more than doubles the risk of a second heart attack. Both the American Heart Association and the American Psychiatric Association agree heart patients should be screened repeatedly for depression and systems should be put into place to provide coordinated treatment.

What should you do?

If you are a heart attack survivor:

• Talk to your doctor about depression or use an online screening tool.
• Understand there are physical and medical reasons for how you feel and treatments to help you feel better.
• Seek support from friends, family members, and peer support groups such as Mended Hearts.

If you care for a survivor:

• Pay attention to your loved-one’s mood and energy level. Is he or she engaged in daily activities or likely to sleep the day away?
• If you have experience with depression, share. Help the survivor understand there is no need to be embarrassed and that help is available.
• Better days are around the corner; you can find them with a little help.

For more Healthy Lifestyle Tips for Busy People visit Eliz’s blog at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com.

Eliz Greene survived a heart attack at age thirty-five while seven-months pregnant with twins. She is a heart health educator, freelance writer, and speaker on a mission to help busy people lead healthier lives.