Depression Impacts Stress System, Fight Or Flight Response, Can Lead To Heart Disease

Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Heart Disease
Article Date: 30 Nov 2011 - 0:00 PST

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Depression may have more far-reaching consequences than previously believed. Recent data suggests that individuals who suffer from a mood disorder could be twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to individuals who are not depressed.

This process has been poorly understood - until now. A new study led by Concordia University has found that depressed individuals have a slower recovery time after exercise compared to those who are non-depressed.

These findings suggest that a dysfunctional biological stress system is at play among depressed individuals. Published in the journal Psychophysiology, the research warns of the importance of testing for cardiovascular disease among people suffering from major depression.

"There have been two competing theories as to why depression is linked to cardiovascular disease," says first author Jennifer Gordon, who is a PhD candidate at McGill University. "Depressed people may have poorer health behaviors, which may in turn lead to heart problems. The other possibility is physiological: a problem with the stress system known as the fight or flight response. Our study was the first to examine the role of a dysfunctional fight or flight response in depression in a large population."

Heart rate recovery is a powerful diagnostic tool

A total of 886 participants, who were on average 60 years old, took part in the study conducted by Concordia in association with the Montreal Heart Institute, McGill University, the Hôpital Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, the Université du Québec à Montréal and the University of Calgary.

Approximately 5 per cent of participants were diagnosed with a major depressive disorder. All individuals were asked to undergo a stress test after which their heart rate and blood pressure were recorded. Recovery heart rates and blood pressure levels were compared between depressed and non-depressed individuals.

"We found that it took longer for the heart rate of depressed individuals to return to normal," says senior author, Simon Bacon, a professor in the Concordia University Department of Exercise Science and a researcher at the Montreal Heart Institute. "Heart rate recovery from exercise is one way to measure the fight or flight stress response. The delayed ability to establish a normal heart rate in the depressed individuals indicates a dysfunctional stress response. We believe that this dysfunction, can contribute to their increased risk for heart disease."

"The take-home message of this study is that health care professionals should not only address the mental disorder, but also the potential for heart disease in patients who are suffering from major depression," adds Bacon. "Both of these health issues should be treated to minimize risk of severe consequences."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our depression section for the latest news on this subject. Partners in research: This work was supported by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Quebec, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Hypertension Society and le Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec.
Concordia University Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

Concordia University. "Depression Impacts Stress System, Fight Or Flight Response, Can Lead To Heart Disease." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 30 Nov. 2011. Web.
9 Dec. 2011. APA

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View the original article here

Depression Doubles Heart Attack Risk

Editor's Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology;  Heart Disease
Article Date: 29 Nov 2011 - 7:00 PST

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

According to recent data, depression may have more severe consequences than previously thought. Compared to people who are not depressed, those with a mood disorder could be two times as likely to suffer a heart attack.

To date, this process has not been clearly understood. A novel investigation led by Concordia University has discovered that recovery time following exercise is slower for individuals who suffer from depression than for those who are non-depressed. The study is published in the journal Psychophysiology.

Findings from the investigation indicate that a dysfunctional biological stress system is active among individuals who are depressed. The study warns that it is vital that patients suffering from major depression be tested for cardiovascular disease.

First author, Jennifer Gordon, who is a PhD candidate at McGill University, explains:

"There have been two competing theories as to why depression is linked to cardiovascular disease. Depressed people may have poorer health behaviors, which may in turn lead to heart problems.

The other possibility is physiological: a problem with the stress system known as the fight or flight response. Our study was the first to examine the role of dysfunctional fight or flight response in depression in a large population."

The study, carried out by Concordia in association with the Montreal Heart Institute, McGill University, the Hôpital Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, the Université du Québec à Montréal and the University of Calgary, enrolled a total of 886 individuals, who were on average 60 years old, to participate in the investigation.

Around 5% of the participants were diagnosed with a major depressive disorder. After they all underwent a stress test, their blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. The researchers then compared recovery blood pressure levels and heart rates between those who were depressed with non-depressed participants.

Senior author, Simon Bacon, a professor in the Concordia University Department of Exercise Science and an investigator at the Montreal Heart Institute, said:

"We found that it took longer for the heart rate of depressed individuals to return to normal. Heart rate recovery from exercise is one way to measure the fight or flight stress response. The delayed ability to establish a normal heart rate in the depressed individuals indicates a dysfunctional stress response. We believe that his dysfunction, can contribute to their increased risk of heart disease.

The take-home message of this study is that health care professionals should not only address the mental disorder, but also the potential for heart disease in patients who are suffering from major depression. Both of these health issues should be treated to minimize risk of severe consequences."

Written by Grace Rattue
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Visit our depression section for the latest news on this subject. Psychophysiology

Source: Concordia University

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

Grace Rattue. "Depression Doubles Heart Attack Risk." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 29 Nov. 2011. Web.
9 Dec. 2011. APA

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

posted by evelyn haskins on 2 Dec 2011 at 11:27 pm

"Depression Doubles Heart Attack Risk"
or
Doubled heart attack risk causes depression?
Or are they both simply caused by the same physiological malfunction?

| post followup | alert a moderator |

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If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

View the original article here

Depression Impacts Stress System, Fight Or Flight Response, Can Lead To Heart Disease

Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Heart Disease
Article Date: 30 Nov 2011 - 0:00 PST

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Depression may have more far-reaching consequences than previously believed. Recent data suggests that individuals who suffer from a mood disorder could be twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to individuals who are not depressed.

This process has been poorly understood - until now. A new study led by Concordia University has found that depressed individuals have a slower recovery time after exercise compared to those who are non-depressed.

These findings suggest that a dysfunctional biological stress system is at play among depressed individuals. Published in the journal Psychophysiology, the research warns of the importance of testing for cardiovascular disease among people suffering from major depression.

"There have been two competing theories as to why depression is linked to cardiovascular disease," says first author Jennifer Gordon, who is a PhD candidate at McGill University. "Depressed people may have poorer health behaviors, which may in turn lead to heart problems. The other possibility is physiological: a problem with the stress system known as the fight or flight response. Our study was the first to examine the role of a dysfunctional fight or flight response in depression in a large population."

Heart rate recovery is a powerful diagnostic tool

A total of 886 participants, who were on average 60 years old, took part in the study conducted by Concordia in association with the Montreal Heart Institute, McGill University, the Hôpital Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, the Université du Québec à Montréal and the University of Calgary.

Approximately 5 per cent of participants were diagnosed with a major depressive disorder. All individuals were asked to undergo a stress test after which their heart rate and blood pressure were recorded. Recovery heart rates and blood pressure levels were compared between depressed and non-depressed individuals.

"We found that it took longer for the heart rate of depressed individuals to return to normal," says senior author, Simon Bacon, a professor in the Concordia University Department of Exercise Science and a researcher at the Montreal Heart Institute. "Heart rate recovery from exercise is one way to measure the fight or flight stress response. The delayed ability to establish a normal heart rate in the depressed individuals indicates a dysfunctional stress response. We believe that this dysfunction, can contribute to their increased risk for heart disease."

"The take-home message of this study is that health care professionals should not only address the mental disorder, but also the potential for heart disease in patients who are suffering from major depression," adds Bacon. "Both of these health issues should be treated to minimize risk of severe consequences."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our depression section for the latest news on this subject. Partners in research: This work was supported by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Quebec, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Hypertension Society and le Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec.
Concordia University Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

Concordia University. "Depression Impacts Stress System, Fight Or Flight Response, Can Lead To Heart Disease." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 30 Nov. 2011. Web.
8 Dec. 2011. APA

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

View the original article here

Depression Doubles Heart Attack Risk

Editor's Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology;  Heart Disease
Article Date: 29 Nov 2011 - 7:00 PST

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

According to recent data, depression may have more severe consequences than previously thought. Compared to people who are not depressed, those with a mood disorder could be two times as likely to suffer a heart attack.

To date, this process has not been clearly understood. A novel investigation led by Concordia University has discovered that recovery time following exercise is slower for individuals who suffer from depression than for those who are non-depressed. The study is published in the journal Psychophysiology.

Findings from the investigation indicate that a dysfunctional biological stress system is active among individuals who are depressed. The study warns that it is vital that patients suffering from major depression be tested for cardiovascular disease.

First author, Jennifer Gordon, who is a PhD candidate at McGill University, explains:

"There have been two competing theories as to why depression is linked to cardiovascular disease. Depressed people may have poorer health behaviors, which may in turn lead to heart problems.

The other possibility is physiological: a problem with the stress system known as the fight or flight response. Our study was the first to examine the role of dysfunctional fight or flight response in depression in a large population."

The study, carried out by Concordia in association with the Montreal Heart Institute, McGill University, the Hôpital Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, the Université du Québec à Montréal and the University of Calgary, enrolled a total of 886 individuals, who were on average 60 years old, to participate in the investigation.

Around 5% of the participants were diagnosed with a major depressive disorder. After they all underwent a stress test, their blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. The researchers then compared recovery blood pressure levels and heart rates between those who were depressed with non-depressed participants.

Senior author, Simon Bacon, a professor in the Concordia University Department of Exercise Science and an investigator at the Montreal Heart Institute, said:

"We found that it took longer for the heart rate of depressed individuals to return to normal. Heart rate recovery from exercise is one way to measure the fight or flight stress response. The delayed ability to establish a normal heart rate in the depressed individuals indicates a dysfunctional stress response. We believe that his dysfunction, can contribute to their increased risk of heart disease.

The take-home message of this study is that health care professionals should not only address the mental disorder, but also the potential for heart disease in patients who are suffering from major depression. Both of these health issues should be treated to minimize risk of severe consequences."

Written by Grace Rattue
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Visit our depression section for the latest news on this subject. Psychophysiology

Source: Concordia University

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

Grace Rattue. "Depression Doubles Heart Attack Risk." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 29 Nov. 2011. Web.
8 Dec. 2011. APA

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

posted by evelyn haskins on 2 Dec 2011 at 11:27 pm

"Depression Doubles Heart Attack Risk"
or
Doubled heart attack risk causes depression?
Or are they both simply caused by the same physiological malfunction?

| post followup | alert a moderator |

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

View the original article here