Common mental health condition linked to heart attacks and stroke

New research has found a common mental health condition could heighten your risk of heart attacks and strokes later on in life. A study published in the European Heart Journal suggests that women diagnosed with perinatal depression have a higher chance of developing cardiovascular diseases.

The researchers highlighted that women diagnosed with this condition are at an elevated risk over the subsequent 20 years, compared to women who gave birth without experiencing perinatal depression. Perinatal mental health issues can arise anytime from the start of pregnancy until one year after birth.

This list of perinatal mental health problems can include:

• Perinatal depression

• Perinatal anxiety

• Perinatal OCD

• Postnatal PTSD and birth trauma

• Postpartum psychosis

The study is first of its kind to focus on cardiovascular health following perinatal depression. Data for the research was collected from approximately 600,000 women.

The researchers observed the most significant risks correlated with high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, and heart failure. The study was conducted by Dr Emma Brann, Dr Donghao Lu, and their team at Sweden's Karolinska Institutet, reports Gloucestershire Live.

Dr Lu revealed: "Our research group has already found that perinatal depression is linked to an increased risk of several other health issues. Including premenstrual disorders, autoimmune disorders and suicidal behaviour, as well as premature death."

"Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death globally and there has been an ongoing discussion about including reproductive health when assessing the risk among women. We wanted to know if a history of perinatal depression could help predict cardiovascular disease risk."

The study utilised data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register, which logs every birth in Sweden. It involved comparing 55,539 Swedish women diagnosed with perinatal depression from 2001-2014 to 545,567 Swedish women who gave birth during the same period but did not have perinatal depression.

The follow-up for all participants extended until 2020 to determine whether they developed any form of cardiovascular disease. Results showed that 6.4% of women with a history of perinatal depression went on to develop cardiovascular disease, as opposed to 3.7% of those without such a history.

This indicates a 36% increased risk of cardiovascular disease for those with perinatal depression. Additionally, their risk of developing high blood pressure was about 50% higher, ischemic heart disease risk approximately 37% higher, and heart failure risk around 36% higher.

Dr Brann, the lead researcher of the study, concluded: "Our findings may help identify people who are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease so that steps can be taken to reduce this risk. This study also adds to the established health risks of perinatal depression."

"We know that perinatal depression is both preventable and treatable, and for many people it's the first episode of depression they've ever experienced. Our findings provide more reason for ensuring maternal care is holistic, with equal attention on both physical and mental health."

"It remains unclear how and through what pathways perinatal depression leads to cardiovascular disease. We need to do more research to understand this so that we can find the best ways to prevent depression and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease."

The researchers noted a higher risk of heart disease by 20% in women who had experienced perinatal depression compared to their sisters who did not.

Dr Brann suggested: "The slightly lower difference in risk between sisters suggest that there could be genetic or familial factors partly involved," He added: "There could also be other factors involved, as is the case for the link between other forms of depression and cardiovascular disease. These include alterations in the immune system, oxidative stress and lifestyle changes implicated in major depression."

Additionally, it was advised that if you're dealing with a mental health issue and you become pregnant, it would be beneficial to consult your doctor immediately. This advice is also pertinent if you are considering starting a family.

Alternatively, you could consult with any other doctor involved in your mental health care, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist. This is due to the fact that having mental health issues can heighten your risk of becoming unwell during pregnancy and after birth.