Dealing with Depression
It’s not uncommon to experience symptoms of depression after a cardiac event. However, we now know that much of this sadness simply “disappears” after a few weeks.26
In some cases, depression may even have been present before the event occurred. Regardless of when the symptoms first appeared, if they are interfering with your daily life, or are lasting for more than two weeks, you need to see your doctor as you may be suffering from clinical depression.28
Clinical depression is typically characterized by the following28:
- A down mood; feeling “blue,” unhappy, morose, sad, and pessimistic for most of the day, for more days than not
- Significantly reduced interest in general activities, particularly activities you used to enjoy
- Changes in appetite (too much or too little)
- Sleep changes (too much or too little)
- Chronic fatigue
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Poor self-esteem
- Suicidal thoughts
If you are experiencing these symptoms of depression, you should know you are not alone. Approximately 20 percent of heart attack survivors suffer from major depression during their recovery and between 40 and 65 percent of cardiac patients experience depressed or anxious moods.30
Depression may be dangerous for survivors of heart events. Various studies have reported that depressed heart patients are approximately twice as likely to suffer a recurrent event, need angioplasty or bypass surgery, suffer other heart-related complications or have additional heart attacks compared with patients who are not depressed.31
Depression may affect the course and outcome of heart disease long after recovering from a heart attack.32 For instance, depression has been associated with disturbances in heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias, and can even increase the risk of sudden cardiac death.33 Some scientists believe that people with heart disease who are depressed activate their sympathetic nervous systems (the stress - or “fight or flight” - alarm) more frequently than they do their parasympathetic systems (the calming response), which may interfere with recovery from a heart attack.33
Even though it is common for heart patients to feel sad or depressed after a cardiac event, recovering patients need to seek help if the symptoms are severe and long-lasting. Depression can make it difficult for you to provide self-care, as well as decrease motivation for life-fulfilling activities.26 Additionally, negative lifestyle habits associated with depression, including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, poor diet and lack of social support increase the risk of a recurrent event and often interfere with treatment.34
If you are suffering from depression, talk to your doctor about your symptoms and concerns. Only a healthcare provider can diagnose whether you have depression. If depression is the diagnosis, you may respond well to treatment that includes psychotherapy (talk therapy), medication, or a combination of both.35 Your healthcare provider can help you determine what therapy is right for you.
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