It is important to discuss persistent symptoms of unexplained depression with a physician.
Most depression is situational and of brief duration.
However, mental stress and a depressed mood can adversely affect the cardiovascular system. More cardiologists are collaborating with psychiatrists in large ongoing trials to examine the link between cardiovascular disease and depression. It may increase the risk of having high blood pressure, irregular heart beats, and even heart attacks, among other problems. However, men over age 70 are most at risk of cardiovascular diseases when the depression first strikes, a new study shows. Then they looked at how the participants' health was up to 5 years later, the team reports in the April 15 American Journal of Cardiology .