Depression and inflammation (which can be a risk factor for heart disease) are known to be linked but scientists don't really know which comes first. Researchers from Indiana University in Indianapolis studied 263 people aged between 50 and 70 in an attempt to get to the bottom of this. They tested the participants for depression and measured their levels of an inflammatory protein called interleukin-6 at the start of the study and again six years later. They found that depressive symptoms were linked to higher levels of interleukin-6 six years later but high levels of interleukin-6 were not linked to depression later. The strength of the link between depression and a future risk of heart disease is as strong as those for smoking, high blood pressure and raised cholesterol.
You can find out more about this research at
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091005123055.htm
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Depression and inflammation (which can be a risk factor for heart disease) are known to be linked but scientists don't really know which comes first. Researchers from Indiana University in Indianapolis studied 263 people aged between 50 and 70 in an attempt to get to the bottom of this. They tested the participants for depression and measured their levels of an inflammatory protein called interleukin-6 at the start of the study and again six years later. They found that depressive symptoms were linked to higher levels of interleukin-6 six years later but high levels of interleukin-6 were not linked to depression later. The strength of the link between depression and a future risk of heart disease is as strong as those for smoking, high blood pressure and raised cholesterol.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the nation's single leading cause of death for both men and women. At least 58.8 million people in this country suffer from some form of heart disease.
And on the whole, cardiovascular diseases (the combination of heart disease and stroke) kill some 950,000 Americans every year.
Still, there are many misconceptions about heart disease: "The biggest misconception is that heart disease only happens to the elderly," said Elizabeth Schilling, CRNP with the Center for Preventive Cardiology Program at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
In fact, according to the American Heart Association, almost 150,00 Americans killed by cardiovascular disease each year are under the age of 65. And one out of every 20 people below the age of 40 has heart disease.
So, it is now a wise decision to keep a constant monitoring of your health. Why to take a chance if we have the option. I was in the similar misconception that heart disease are far away waiting for me to get aged. But to my surprise, I was found to be having a calcium deposit in my coronary arteries. I need to have my advance diagnostic scans due reassure whether something really deadly is waiting for me. Though it was some dreadful going on in my life, but I never felt any kind of discomfort in Elitehealth.com advanced diagnostic facility. They were having some of the latest diagnostic equipments and non invasive techniques which made me feel safe.
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