When it comes to ischemic heart disease, the impact to young women is even greater. Young women with depression had a 14 times greater risk of dying from heart attack, compared to men who only had a 3.5 times increased risk. Viola Vaccarino, MD, senior author of the study stated that “Among women, depression appears to be more important than traditional risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, obesity and diabetes which are not common in young women.” (ScienceDaily)
Sources:
Women, Depression, and Heart Disease Fact Sheet. WomenHeart.org. 2011. http://www.womenheart.org/resources/depressionfs.cfm
Heart disease in women: Understand symptoms and risk factors. The Mayo Clinic. 12 Jan 2011. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease/HB00040
Emory University (2011, November 11). Depression in young people increases risk of heart disease mortality. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111111152242.htm
Reviewed November 14, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
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