Dodging Post-Heart Attack Depression
Emotions tend to run rampant after any major life event. This is especially true for those events that may have been life threatening like a stroke, heart attack, or a terminal illness. While most people are grateful to still be living after an event like this, many people also come to terms with the reality of death and become depressed.
If an individual has a heart attack, he may spend a lot of his time being too careful, ultimately diminishing his quality of life. He will likely begin to question if and when it will happen again. A life changing event can make a person begin to regret some of their past actions. This can cause a person to feel incredibly guilty or remorseful about something they didn't remedy, or think they now don't have enough time to fix it.
Allowing oneself to succumb to depression after a heart attack negatively affects the ability to recover. Depression affects about 20 percent of people that have suffered from cardiac arrest, and this group is about four times more likely to pass away within six months of the initial heart attack.
Depression can eliminate an individual’s will to care for themselves properly, resulting in a continuous decrease in health. Similarly, for caregivers, depression following a heart attack may result in a lack of self-care, which is why both parties should be aware of the signs and symptoms of depression.
Signs and Symptoms of Post-Heart Attack Depression
Depression, unlike sadness, is not a normal human emotion. Despite this, depression is much more common in individuals that have just suffered a heart attack, although this depression is usually mild and short-lived. If a case of depression becomes more serious or persistent, the individual should seek help right away. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of depression may save a life.
Symptoms of Depression:
- Long-term sadness and hopelessness
- Frequent crying spells
- Changes in appetite or weight (not eating enough or eating too much)
- Trouble sleep or sleeping too much
- Expressing thoughts of dying or suicide
- Loss of interest in everyday things
These symptoms alone can have very serious and negative effects on a person’s health, which is why it is even more dangerous for someone that has suffered a heart attack.
Dodging Depression and Tips for Treatment
If an individual believes that they are suffering from depression following a heart attack, they should seek help from a physician. The physician will help them through treatment and make recommendations based on the individual’s needs.
Medication, or antidepressants, may not always be the best option for an individual who has had heart troubles, depending on the side effects. Tricyclic medications can cause irregular heartbeats, as well as unexpected changes in blood pressure, therefore are not the best option for an individual with heart issues.
Psychotherapy is a non-medicated, noninvasive option for individuals suffering from depression, which may be a better option for those suffering from post-heart attack depression. These therapists teach people about their illness and help them overcome it by altering an individual’s way of thinking, as well as changing or getting rid of negative or harmful habits.
Finally, the best thing a person can do to avoid depression after a heart attack is to take better care of themselves and take a stand for their well-being. Exercising regularly will increase endorphins, positively altering a person’s mood. The caregiver should plan the individual’s day around activities that provide pleasure, like a fun activity that they love. In this situation, recovery can be as simple as staying positive and upbeat and allowing oneself to see all the positives in the world around them.
It is important for caregivers and those that have suffered from a heart attack to both understand the serious and severe nature of depression. It is not something to take lightly. If an individual is representing signs of depression, do not hesitate to contact a physician.
