I've been feeling moody and low lately, and I think I may be depressed. I had a heart attack a year ago and am wondering whether there could be a connection. No one knows why they're at risk. It may be that because of a heart attack, a patient confronts his own mortality for the first time.
Women have heart attacks, too, and are just as likely to be depressed later.
Sometimes, depression is present before a heart-disease diagnosis. You're right to pay attention to feelings, because depression can get in the way of your recovery. Depressed heart-disease patients suffer a death rate five times higher than nondepressed patients, and depressed patients are more likely to isolate themselves, which can also adversely affect health. These are all markers for depression. Also, keep in mind that certain medications can exacerbate depression.