A person with depression is at higher risk for heart disease, and a person with heart disease is at higher risk for depression. The link between the two diseases is complex. Many of the effects of depression— feeling unable to exercise or eat properly, for example, and the behaviors associated with depression, like smoking and abusing alcohol, are well established risk factors for heart disease. Some studies have suggested that insomnia, another symptom of depression, may also increase the risk for cardiovascular illness. Depression can also make heart disease worse. Heart patients with depression may find it more difficult to take medications and comply with the behavioral demands of living with heart disease. Depression may also have destructive physiological effects on heart rhythm, blood pressure, stress hormone levels and blood clotting, studies have shown. Inflammation, which increases heart disease risk and mortality, may also play a role in the connection.
We discuss the links between depression and heart disease from an East West perspective, review the most common conditions seen by natural health providers such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, post stroke recovery, broken heart syndrome, depression, and insomnia. In addition, we discuss reversing heart disease, TCM in integrative cardiology, herbs, diet and lifestyle tips and when to make a physician referral. As a special bonus we discuss the case of Jim Fixx, the “running guru”.
Andrew Gaeddert, RH, founder of Health Concerns, is an authority on the western applications of Chinese Medicine. He is a researcher, educator and clinician.