Depression Can Increase

The Risk Of Heart Attack

DANBURY –– Depression is not only bad for the mind, it can be bad for the body. Doctors are finding proof that there is a strong mind/body connection and an imbalance in the brain, such as in depression, can cause imbalances in other organs. Most importantly, it can put someone at risk for heart attack.

“Depression can put someone at risk for other health problems,” said Orestes Arcuni, MD, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Danbury Hospital, including heart attack, immune system impairment, infection, decreased thyroid function, decreased energy, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and impaired thinking.

Depression elaborates chemicals in the body that can make blood more sticky. When this happens, clots can form that cause heart problems, he added. “When chemical reactions go wrong in the brain, they can affect the rest of the body,” he said.

Twenty percent of people who have heart attacks will get depression, according to Dr Arcuni, and those with depression will have a higher risk for dying in the next six months.

Joseph Williams, MD, a psychiatrist with Danbury Hospital agrees. “We often neglect our minds but can get illnesses in our heads, too,” he said. Dr Williams spoke along with Dr Arcuni on “Depression and Aging: The Mind & Body Connection” at a recent Medical Town Meeting.

The doctors recommend caring for both mind and body by staying socially active and setting aside time for relaxation and rest, and getting at least six hours of sleep per night.

Hot-tempered people also put themselves at higher risk for stroke and heart problems, according to Dr Arcuni, who recommends learning ways to manage anger and reactivity.

The doctors urge people, especially the elderly, to watch for signs of depression. They include low self-esteem, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, slowed speech, exhaustion and fatigue, and no interest in eating.

But the good news today from the doctors is that depression can be easily treated through medications and therapy.

“Keeping our brain healthy is just as important as keeping our body healthy,” said Dr Arcuni.

If you think you may be suffering signs of depression, talk to your doctor. If you need a doctor, visit the Danbury Hospital website at www.danburyhospital.org or call 797-7322.