Women, Depression, and Heart Disease
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Facts
- Even mild forms of depression or depressive symptoms increase heart disease risk.
- Depression is twice as common in women as in men, and increases the risk of heart disease by two to three times compared with women who are not depressed regardless of race, ethnicity or economic background.
- Depression makes it difficult for women to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to follow recommended treatment.
- Depression can lead to heart disease in women and results in those women being more than twice as likely to experience sudden cardiac death.
- Women with higher levels of depression are the most likely to be obese or to smoke – both recognized as major risk factors for heart disease.
Signs of depression
Helplessness
Thought of death
Guilt
Changes in appetite
Energy loss
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Anger
Withdrawing from friends and family
Sleep problem
No concentration
Alcohol & drug abuse