The Connection of Depression to Heart Disease
Once a patient is diagnosed with a heart disease, he is at risk for developing depression. Extreme loneliness and a feeling of usefulness lead to depression. Usually heart disease patients will feel useless because they can’t do anything for their family anymore. This situation is common among the providers in the family. They’re used to being the provider in the family and giving the needs of their family members; however, when diagnosed with heart disease, they will now be assuming the opposite role and their significant others who used to depend on them will now be their care providers. Feelings of usefulness will begin to arise accompanied with pride.
Depression can greatly affect the prognosis of a patient with heart disease. Studies have shown that patients who are experiencing depression together with heart disease are reported to die earlier than expected. Depression does not only aggravate the condition. It can also be a predisposing factor to develop a heart disease.
Experts still does not know the exact mechanism of how depression worsens heart disease; but it is clear that it is very much connected to heart disease. The condition of depression itself is serious especially when it comes to physical health. Depressed patients would often feel alone and isolated, thinking that now one cares for them. They will also tend to neglect their personal hygiene and often their nutrition. Depressed patients are prone to developing anorexia which causes the body to weaken due to poor source of energy.
In taking care of patients with heart disease, your goals of care should include the physical and emotional aspects. If you are a loved one of a heart disease patient, give them importance and show them that you are always on their side. As much as possible, do not let them feel isolated. Also, do not show them pity. Showing them that your pity will just contribute to their feelings of self-pity, and that is not what we want. Instead of sympathy, show them your empathy. Do not make them feel useless and let them do things on their own, like their personal hygiene. Simply provide them with assistance instead of doing everything for them. This way, they will feel cared for yet they know that they can still stand up on their known.
April 03 2009 02:51 pm | Heart Disease Symptoms
April 10th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
As a person I always think that people who suffers from depression triggers sudden death are those people who never receive affection and love from their families and friends. Your family knows what you need and knows the support you need to sustain life in accordance to your health problem, although we know that sometimes we cannot force them to think that they are diffrent and who are sick to me a lot of love,carring,understanding will help to heal the wound of depression.