Study: Severe stress and depression can reduce longevity

If you suffer from heart problems, science has found yet another reason to keep your stress levels in check.

A new study has found that stress and depression may have a dangerous effect on people with cardiovascular problems as high levels of the two can reduce longevity and increase heart attack risk by 48 per cent.

For people who already have heart health problems, researchers say a combination of stress and depression can create a “psychosocial perfect storm” for patients.

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The study, published online in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes examined nearly 5,000 people over 45 with coronary heart disease, who shared their symptoms of depression and stress during in-home examinations.

Around six per cent reported having high stress and high depression, the researchers found. In the six-week follow up, there were 1377 deaths or heart attacks among the group.

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“The increase in risk accompanying high stress and high depressive symptoms was robust and consistent across demographics, medical history, medication use and health risk behaviours,” the study authors said in a statement, adding that the high-risk period for people with high stress and depression was two and a half years. After that, the risk disappeared.

Those who only had high stress or high depressive symptoms, rather than both at the same time, did not have an increased risk.

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It’s not the first time research has highlighted the impact of high stress on your heart health. Last month, University of Sydney researchers found that high levels of anger can make you eight times more likely to have a heart attack.

According to the researchers, this new study highlights the importance of including stress management when dealing with depressive symptoms in heart disease. Stress management, such as meditation or regular exercise teamed with behavioural strategies targeting depression could help patients get out of the red, and boost their health and longevity.

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