The Link Between Depression and Cardiovascular Disease: A Study on Young Adults

Depression really hurts the heart! If you are in a stressful situation for a long time and do not relieve it in time, in addition to causing depression and mental health problems, there is also a risk of cardiovascular disease. Depression is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease as well as poor cardiovascular health, with people with perceived poor mental health having a significantly higher risk of heart problems, a study noted.

The Dong Foundation shared a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association by Johns Hopkins University scholars in January 2023. The research team surveyed more than 500,000 people aged 18 to 49 in the United States between 2017 and 2020. Self-reported data from young adults, including “whether they were told they had depression,” “number of days in the past month that they perceived as having poor mental health,” “whether they experienced a heart attack, stroke, or chest pain,” and “whether Risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as: high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables, depression, etc.”

The results found that in the past 30 days, those who felt that they had “1 to 13 days of poor mental health” had a risk of cardiovascular disease that was 1.5 times that of “people without mental health problems”; those who felt “14 to 30 days of mental health Those with poor mental health had a 2.3 times higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than those without mental health problems.

Cardiovascular disease and depression interact and cause and effect

Zhan Jiazhen, Director of the General Psychiatry Department of Zhongxing Branch of Taipei United Hospital, said that many studies in the past have confirmed that depression increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular disease also increases the risk of depression. for causality.

Zhan Jiazhen said that people who have depression or are in a poor mental state usually have poor diet and sleep status, and are more likely to have unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking or too much sedentary life, which are the causes of cardiovascular disease Risk factors; it may also directly cause heart damage through stress hormones or sympathetic stimulation.

She said that the above-mentioned research results show that people with depression have the highest rate of cardiovascular disease. The mental health improvement program for young adults can help reduce the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. It is recommended that everyone pay attention to mental health from an early age. To start nurturing.

Find out that the pressure of life is overloaded, find out the source of stress and adjust it

Ye Yaxin, director of the Mental Health Center of the Dong Foundation, said that the study mentioned that depression has a direct impact on heart disease. This is because when you are depressed or have emotional disorders, it will increase stress hormones, cause inflammation, and affect the heart. The balance of glucose and lipids, and the comfort of more bad habits, such as smoking and drinking, are easy to smoke more fiercely and drink more, which will lead to cardiovascular disease over time.

Ye Yaxin also pointed out that maintaining mental health can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and suggested that young people establish the habit of “emotional awareness” and “stress relief” when they feel that there is a physical condition, such as: frequent colds will not get better Feeling anxious or irritable for no reason may be a warning sign of excessive life pressure. At this time, you need to find out the source of stress and understand how they affect you; establish a habit of relieving stress. In addition to listening to music and exercising, you might as well watch dramas. From the drama, you can see different life styles. When you are in a bad state of mind, you can temporarily transfer your negative emotions, so you don’t have to feel guilty about chasing dramas.

Ye Yaxin reminded that only by understanding our own stressors can we face and respond appropriately. We are often used to being full of various pressures in our lives, and we will not be alert until the pressure exceeds the load. Sometimes it is better to regard it as a gift from God, so that we have to stop. Come down, check and adjust carefully. If the situation continues to fail to improve and affects your life, it is recommended to actively seek the assistance of a professional physician or psychologist. In addition, establish a healthy social network. Whether it is physical or online emotional support, it is conducive to mental health.