Heart failure has been added to the list of risk factors of depression.
American Live Wire has reported that compared to people with no symptoms of depression, those with mild symptoms were 5 percent more likely to develop heart failure, and those with moderate to severe symptoms had a 40 percent increased risk.
Risk factors linked to heart failure were found through an analysis of the medical records for 630,000 patients.
The study reportedly involved gathering data on blood pressure and smoking, body mass index and physical activity.
According to the findings, over a period of more than 11 years, almost 1,500 people developed heart failure.
Major symptoms of severe depression include insomnia, lower energy levels, overeating, restlessness and worthlessness, all factors that put both mental and physical health at risk.
Treatment for early stage depression can include physical activity and broadening one's social circles, although these may be difficult to achieve at first.
According to Forbes, the connection between the brain and the heart is made because depression increases the level of stress hormones, which could, over time, lead to inflammation, a known risk factor for heart disease.
Lisa Tuset Gustad, an intensive care nurse from Levanger Hospital in Norway stated, "If you're stressed you feel your pulse going up and your breath speeding up, which is the result of hormones being released."
She continued, "Those stress hormones also induce inflammation and atherosclerosis, which may accelerate heart diseases."
Researchers emphasized that their study should be considered preliminary until the link to heart failure and depression is further explored.
Gustad explained "Depressed people have less healthy lifestyles, so our analysis adjusted for factors such as obesity and smoking that could cause both depression and heart failure. This means we can be confident that these factors did not cause the association."
Gustad stated that although treatment and medication is incredibly important for those suffering form depression, it is often difficult for patients to follow the suggested methods to get better.
