Doctors are also concerned that many depressed heart patients are either not treated at all for their depression, misdiagnosed when they do seek treatment, or treated incorrectly, such as being prescribed sedatives, which makes depression worse. More recent research seems to indicate that depression leads to heart disease. In a study led by Dr. William W. Eaton of the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health in Baltimore, researchers followed approximately 1,500 healthy people with no evidence of heart disease over a 14 year period from 1981 to 1995. During the study, researchers found that subjects who were depressed suffered from heart attacks at a rate four times greater than subjects who did not suffer from depression. Further research in biochemical changes caused by depression may lead to the answers.
Research shows people who suffer from depression have hearts that beat faster, even when sleeping.
All of these factors result in more stress on the blood vessels and the heart. While depressed patients say they are sad and lethargic, their stress hormones are working overtime. In addition, this hypersensitive state can last for weeks, months, and even years. Cortisol can also cause abdominal fat to amass, which increases the risk of heart attack. This stress hormone increases heart rate and raises blood pressure.