Depression

DO YOU HAVE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS? GET HELP NOW.

If the idea of suicide has entered your thinking, immediately make an appointment with a health care professional. Meantime, talk to a friend or family member, or to your spiritual leader, about how you’re feeling. Call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline any time, 24 hours a day, at 1-800-273-8255, where trained counselors are ready to help. However you handle these thoughts and feelings, don’t go it alone.

NOT THE NEW NORMAL

You should know that depression isn’t a “normal” part of recovering from a heart event. It needs to be treated, along with the heart event itself. Depression affects the mind and the body. Left untreated, it can take a terrible toll on every aspect of your life.

Depression and Heart Disease: Awareness and Treatment

Depression is actually a fairly common condition among people who have had a heart event. As many as one in three of us who’ve had a heart attack report feelings of depression. Women, people who’ve already experienced depression, and people without a social network or emotional support are at higher risk for depression following a heart event. Depression isn’t a character flaw, nor is it something you can just shake off or snap out of. It’s a serious condition that requires medical care. And treatment works. Here we review symptoms and treatments for depression that you should know.

Be Aware of the Symptoms of Depression

It’s normal to feel sad on occasion. But sometimes you may feel sad for extended periods of time, with or without a reason. If these sad feelings interfere with your daily activities, this could be depression. Here are the definite symptoms associated with depression:

Feeling sad or having a depressed mood, including crying
Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy
Noticeable changes in appetite or weight
Sleeping too much or too little
Feeling agitated, cranky, or sluggish
Not seeing a clear, purposeful future
Losing energy
Feeling guilty or worthless
Having trouble concentrating or making decisions
Having thoughts of death or suicide

Depression is often described as having symptoms from this list nearly every day, all day, for two or more weeks. That’s part of what distinguishes the symptoms of depression from ordinary feelings of sadness. The first two symptoms are especially common in people with depression. For patients who’ve had a heart event, the symptoms of depression can be more severe. That’s why it’s especially important to seek treatment if you believe you are experiencing depression.

Know the Effects of Depression

Depression affects everything in your daily life, including your recovery from a heart event. In fact, depression can make recovery more difficult because it can lead to the following conditions:

A lower desire to follow the treatment plan
Greater likelihood to smoke and drink
Greater risk for another heart event
Lower desire for physical activity
Bad eating habits
Anxiety
Problems at work or school
Family and relationship problems
Social isolation
Suicide

Get Diagnosed

See your health care team if you suspect you are depressed. Prepare to answer some questions about your symptoms. It helps to write down basic information beforehand, such as:

Any symptoms, even if they don’t seem related to the depression
Personal information, such as major changes in your life (including your heart event) or anything that is causing you stress
Medications, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements

Also note questions to ask your health care team. Inquire about symptoms, treatment options, and anything else you need clarified.

To diagnose depression, your health care team will probably conduct a physical exam and take a medical history. In some cases, a blood test or other lab procedure may be the next step. You will probably be asked about your thoughts and feelings, what you’ve noticed about your own behavior patterns, and whether you’ve had such symptoms before.