Mental health and the heart are well linked, according to a study which shows that young women suffering from anxiety and depression may have a greater risk of having heart problems.
- The frequency of severe anxiety disorders is twice as high in women as in men.
- Suffering from depression or anxiety could accelerate the development of cardiovascular risk factors in young women, according to a study.
- Women who suffered from depression and anxiety were twice as likely to have cardiovascular problems.
15% of adults aged 18 to 65 experience severe anxiety disorders in a given year and 21% will experience them during their lifetime, according to the High Authority of Health.
The heart and mental health
Overall, the frequency of these severe anxiety disorders is twice as high in women as in men, and this could have significant consequences on their heart health. Indeed, according to a study presented at the annual congress of the American College of Cardiologysuffering from depression or anxiety could accelerate the development of cardiovascular risk factors in young women.
“We often have the impression that young women constitute a group with little cardiovascular risk thanks to the protective effects of estrogens, explains Giovanni Civieri, cardiologist and author of the study, in a communicated. But (…) we should screen more (…) young women who suffer from depression or anxiety, in order to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.”
During their work, the researchers analyzed the health records of more than 71,000 people. Those with heart disease or diagnosed with anxiety or depression after the start of the study were excluded. Follow-up lasted 10 years during which 38% of participants developed high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or diabetes.
Twice the cardiovascular risk in women
Results: Cardiovascular risk was 55% greater in people with a history of anxiety or depression before the study period. But, among women, this percentage was even higher. In fact, they were twice as likely to have cardiovascular problems.
“When a young woman suffers from depression or anxiety, her risk [cardiovasculaire] is comparable to that of a young man, says Giovanni Civieri. (…) Depression and anxiety increase a risk that would otherwise be very low.“
But why such a link? Based on analyzes of brain activity in some participants, those suffering from anxiety or depression had greater stress-related neural activity.
Studies still need to be conducted to better understand this major health problem. Indeed, according to the French Federation of Cardiology (FFC), cardiovascular diseases are now the leading cause of death among women in Europe: 18% for myocardial infarction and 14% for stroke. And young people are increasingly affected: according to the Weekly epidemiological bulletinbetween 2009 and 2010, there was a 4.8% increase in the number of young women – 45-54 years old – hospitalized for myocardial infarction.