If you have been diagnosed with a heart condition and your doctor has given you specific things to do every day to stay well, it's important to follow through. From taking medication to exercising, following your doctor's orders can help you live life to the fullest.If you have depression, it can be very difficult to stay consistent with the healthy habits needed to manage a heart condition. That's why it may be important to be screened for depression if you have been diagnosed with a heart condition.
A November 2008 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association tracked more than 1,000 patients with heart disease for about five years and found that those with depression were less likely to follow prescribed treatment, more likely to smoke and less likely to be physically active. And the group with depression was 31% more likely to experience a cardiac event, such as a heart attack.
Get screened
Nearly one in five people with heart disease suffer from depression.* But some symptoms of heart disease and depression – such as anxiety and fatigue – are similar. It's important to consult a health care professional who specializes in depression and can tell the difference. Talk to your doctor or call (877) 242-4200, ext. 2 to find a physician.
* Source: www.HeartHealthyWomen.org.