Mental health problems increase risk of heart disease, stroke

By: Editorial Team | | Published: October 29, 2014 11:09 am

A new study has demonstrated that people who suffer from mental health disorders are twice as likely to suffer from heart disease or stroke. The study suggested that people who haven’t developed heart disease or had a stroke are more likely to be at a high long-term risk of developing cardiovascular disease, when compared to the general population. Also Read - Mental illnesses on the rise in India: Know why and what you can do to fight the problem

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Dr. Katie Goldie, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, said that this population was at high risk, and it was even greater for people with multiple mental health issues. People with mental health disorders often exhibit behavioural risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol use, poor diet and physical inactivity. (Read: Letting your mind wander boosts mental health) Also Read - Food insufficiency during COVID-19 pandemic increases depression and anxiety symptoms

Goldie said that psychiatric medications can induce weight gain and impair the breakdown of fats and sugars by the body and this could lead to obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes and the medications themselves account for a lot of risk in this group. (Read: Which of these 12 risk factors for heart disease do you have?)

Dr. Brian Baker, a psychiatrist who specializes in people with cardiac disease, said that the prevention strategies were the same for people with mental health issues which meant eating a healthy diet, being physically active, being smoke-free, managing stress and limiting alcohol consumption and making positive health behavior changes was important to their physical health and to mental health too. (Read: Now, medicines for mental illnesses to be renamed)

Here are risk factors of heart disease

High blood cholesterol

One of the key modifiable risk factors of heart disease is high blood cholesterol in the body. When there are high levels of cholesterol in the blood, it gets deposited on the walls of the arteries. This in turn causes narrowing of the arteries, which interferes with the blood flow and in long run may lead to a heart disease like coronary heart disease or angina.

Tips to manage A healthy diet coupled with regular exercise (or active lifestyle) is one of the most effective measures to control as well as prevent high blood cholesterol levels. Although medications are usually recommended to maintain cholesterol levels, there are natural remedies that act effectively aid in lowering LDL cholesterol as well as increase HDL levels in the body.

High blood pressure

With increased blood pressure (more than 120/80 mm Hg) levels in the body, there is an added pressure on the heart to pump the blood to other organs of the body. This gradually makes the heart to work harder which makes the heart muscles thicker and stiffer leading to heart disease.

High blood sugar

Type2 diabetes is undoubtedly one of the common clinical conditions that increase the risk of various heart diseases. The uncontrolled blood sugar levels in the body not only cause significant changes in the heart but also double your risk of heart disease (as compared to diabetics with controlled blood sugar levels).

Tips to control With regular exercise, healthy diet and weight management one can maintain their blood sugar levels within control. Other effective measures to prevent and control diabetes are alternative measures like homeopathy, herbal remedies and yoga. Read more about Which of these 6 risk-factors of heart disease do you have?

With inputs from ANI

Photo source: Getty images

Published : October 29, 2014 11:09 am

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