What's more, some evidence suggests that you don't have to be clinically depressed to be at risk. A study of 730 Danish men and women found that being chronically blue (that is, having some symptoms of depression but not enough to be diagnosed with the disorder) boosts the likelihood of heart attack. Several factors seem to underline the connection. Depressed people have more rapid heart rates, higher levels of stress horomones, and heart rhythms that don't adjust well to changes in physical activity. They also appear to have stickier platelets, so their blood may clot more easily, putting them at greater risk for blocked blood vessels and heart attacks. But there may be other contributing factors: Compared with nondepressed people, the depressed are less likely to curb unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking or to practice healthy ones like eating well and exercising. |