Effects of depression on heart: Depression could increase the risk of an irregular heartbeat, study states
Updated: Nov 21, 2018, 12:56 IST
A new study conducted states that depression could lead to an irregular heartbeat and eventually lead to the person having a heart attack or even a stroke. Anti-depressants have been previously linked with some serious, but rare heart rhythm disturbances and they could increase the risk of atrial fibrillation.
"The message for patients who already have atrial fibrillation is that you do not need to be concerned about taking anti-depressant medication if you need it," said Morten Fenger-Gron, from the Aarhus University in Denmark. "Look after your mental health because our study supports existing evidence that problems with the mind can be detrimental for the heart," he added. Post conducting the study, the findings suggest that patients taking anti-depressants -- used as an indicator of depression -- had a 3.18-fold higher risk of atrial fibrillation during the first month of treatment compared with the general population. "Filling a prescription for anti-depressants, which we used as an indicator of depression, was associated with a three-fold greater risk of atrial fibrillation. The decrease with time could suggest that treatment may alleviate this risk," Fenger-Gron said.
Atrial fibrillation causes 20 to 30 per cent of all strokes. It even increases the risk of premature death and the symptoms of which happen to be palpitations, shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain and dizziness.
"The message for patients who already have atrial fibrillation is that you do not need to be concerned about taking anti-depressant medication if you need it," said Morten Fenger-Gron, from the Aarhus University in Denmark. "Look after your mental health because our study supports existing evidence that problems with the mind can be detrimental for the heart," he added. Post conducting the study, the findings suggest that patients taking anti-depressants -- used as an indicator of depression -- had a 3.18-fold higher risk of atrial fibrillation during the first month of treatment compared with the general population. "Filling a prescription for anti-depressants, which we used as an indicator of depression, was associated with a three-fold greater risk of atrial fibrillation. The decrease with time could suggest that treatment may alleviate this risk," Fenger-Gron said.
Atrial fibrillation causes 20 to 30 per cent of all strokes. It even increases the risk of premature death and the symptoms of which happen to be palpitations, shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain and dizziness.