Matters of the heart tend to distract even the most intent among us. But in the case of cardiac patients and their doctors, it’s not romance that is misdirecting things. At a recent annual meetin, the American Heart Association recommended that all cardiologists screen their heart patients for signs of depression.
There is good reason for this recommendation. Clinical depression is roughly three times more common in heart attack survivors and others hospitalized with heart problems as compared to the general adult population. This statistic certainly seems steeped in common sense when you think about the potential reactions of anyone who suffers a heart attack or scare. Mortality can be a powerful mind-bender. Fear about recurrence might stop the heart attack patient from doing much physically, which in turn can lead to depressive symptoms itself.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, depression, heart attacks, heart disesase, heart health |
