If you're living with depression or anxiety, these conditions may seriously threaten your heart and blood vessels.
Researcher Adrie Seldenrijk from VU University Medical Center, in collaboration with the Heart Foundation, discovered that individuals with depression or anxiety disorders develop arteriosclerosis nearly three times more often than those without. This holds true even after accounting for age and other cardiovascular risks like high blood pressure.
Arteriosclerosis (arterial calcification) drives cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. Seldenrijk investigated its causes in 2,115 people with depression or anxiety disorders and 602 without, all aged 18-65 and free of heart disease. Participants underwent interviews and tests.
Researchers measured blood pressure in the ankle and arm (ankle-arm index) to detect arteriosclerosis. It was significantly more common in those with depression or anxiety disorders, heightening risks for heart attack or stroke.
Want to know more? Results appear in the August issue of the Journal of Psychosomatic Research. Part of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA), conducted with GGZ inGeest.
