Bring some cheer to your tired heart!

It was shown in 2002 that if depression emerges in people who have had heart attacks, their illness takes a negative course. The results of the seven year study, known as “Sad Heart,” were published last month.

At the end of this seven year period, the findings obtained in 2002 were confirmed once again. However, this time a positive finding was also obtained. It was discovered that patients whose depression was diagnosed early and who were treated with medications called SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) saw a marked improvement in their conditions. The results of the study have provided information that is cautionary and informative for both doctors and patients. In line with this information, assessment and self-criticism have take on added importance, especially from the point of view of doctors and cardiologists. After having treated a heart attack patient not much attention was being paid to their psychological health. But now we have discovered that a patient’s psychological health is an important part of their recovery from heart disease. In other words, we need to involve our colleagues in psychiatry in the treatment.

The second warning can be directed at patients. Patients acknowledge they have experienced a heart attack, but for some reason they do not acknowledge that they are in depression or they believe that they can overcome this mental situation on their own. This study has shown that depression must not be taken lightly and that if patients wish to healthy, as is true for high cholesterol and diabetes, depression too needs to be treated. That is why, if a psychiatrist has prescribed medications for the treatment of patient, it is very important that that patient complies with the treatment.

Being sad is not the destiny of a heart that has been battered by a heart attack! We now know that with appropriate treatment you can gain back your health!