In a recent release from the American Medical Association, the link between depression and stroke was listed. The link shows that depression can raise the risk for stroke, though that risk is heightened by other factors as well.
Depression has been shown to raise the likelihood of other problems: increased weight, hypertension, and diabetes. Up until now the researchers had known that depression was often present with these conditions, but not if it came before or after they had developed.
The specific type of stroke associated with depression is Ischemic stroke – this is where the blood vessel is blocked which prevents blood from flowing to the brain. The risk of other strokes- hemorrhagic – has not shown to be increased.
There are suggestions on how to lower this risk. The most obvious is to try to eliminate depression as much as possible. Any little thing that you are able to do to decrease depression will lower your risk of stroke.
Some things to consider:
More time with friends (socialization) can help eliminate depression.
Better hygiene – when you feel fresh, you are in a better mood.
Eating better- fresh fruit and vegetables will increase your health which lends to less depression.
Activity- exercise causes endorphins to be released, these chemicals are responsible for the ‘high’ that comes after work-outs.
Dental care has been associated with depression. Infection and pain in the mouth area leads to stress which aggravates inflammation.
There has not been enough research to determine if drugs for depression are part of the reason for the stroke risk. Patients and residents that are taking medication for depression should not stop their medication as the risk of deeper depression or withdrawal is a strong one. Depression is closely linked with the release of stress hormones that drive the higher stroke risk. Stress hormones can increase inflammation and other risk of illness.
Researchers stress that depression is not the leading risk for stroke. Their estimates are that about 1 in 100,000 strokes throughout the United States is depression related. This study was a combination of 318,000 people from studies from the mid 1990′s until recently. Roughly four percent of the strokes reported were related to conditions aggravated by depression and the participants with depression had a higher report of strokes.
Tags: American Medical Association, Depression, Elderly, Ischemic Stroke, Stroke
