Heart Disease And Cardiac Depression… New Findings

October 27th, 2008

A fundamental, unexpected challenge of my heart surgery recovery was severe cardiac depression. After my aortic valve replacement, cardiac depression hit me like a ton of bricks. I was feeling fine one day and the next… Total emotional disaster.

When I launched this website, one of my key objectives was to educate patients and caregivers about this mismanaged condition which impacts 30% to 75% of patients.

Recently, the American Heart Association (AHA) released some interesting details about heart disease and depression that I thought you might find interesting.

Here are some key findings from the AHA’s latest report on depression and heart disease:

Heart disease and depression are so common that all heart patients should be routinely screened for depression and referred for professional help.
Depression is about three times more common in patients after surgery than in the general population, and it can also occur with other types of heart problems.

PATIENT CASE STUDY: DALE BRIGGS, 62 YEARS OLD

Dale Briggs, 62, of Fresno, California, had a mitral valve replaced in 1994 because of a condition called mitral valve prolapse, a common heart valve disorder. Dale noted in a recent interview, “My physical recovery was uneventful.” Yet, Dale began to experience anxiety and had trouble sleeping, among other problems. One day, sitting in his doctor’s office, he saw a poster listing the signs of depression.

There were 18 depression symptoms on that list, he remembers. “I had all of them except the one that said ‘thoughts of suicide,’” Dale note.

This is just one of many patient stories I have encountered relative to cardiac depression. That said, please be prepared for the potential issues of cardiac depression. If you are interested, here is additional information on the topic of cardiac depression:

I hope this helps you better understand heart disease and depression. Feel free to leave a comment by clicking here.

Keep on tickin!

About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates clinical research with the personal experiences of 135 former patients to help future patients and their caregivers better understand the problems, the opportunities and the realities of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.

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5 Comments... Click here to add one.

Martin D. Goodkin says on October 27th, 2008 at 5:33 pm

I have been on lorazepam for anxiety attacks for the past 2 months–had aorta valve replacement July 21, 2008–I also now have neurological damage to my ear and throat. Physically my recovery has been fine… Mentally a nightmare and nothing whether medicine, psychologist is helping at all.

I attended Mended Hearts and got no support. I am trying them again. Maybe it was me. At this point I don’t know where to turn–got your book today–hope it helps.

I do have a lot of problems like being poor, no family, no support group, no transportation, etc.–just trying to live through teh recovery and get back to the positive, happy, Mr. Pollyanna I was before this.

Donald Henry says on October 27th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

Martin,

I had aorta valve replacement in Feb 2000 and I agree with you- the cardiac depression was by far the worse part of the recovery. I am on anxiety medicine , also and have been for 8 years and I cannot ween myself off. The physical healing was a piece of cake compared to the mental and I will face this surgery again in a few years, because I got the pericardial porcine tissue valve and I am 63 years old and not looking forward to another operation. I can fully understand what you are going through.
Don

Cindy Tarver says on October 28th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

I am wondering if anyone has the experience of being under doctor’s treatment for depression & anxiety PRIOR to heart surgery? If so, did you experience an increase in depression or anxiety after surgery?

Gary P says on November 3rd, 2008 at 11:15 pm

Folks- I had an aortic valve replacement at the end of January 2008. I recovered physically, and was back to normal activities be mid march. Iwas absolutely fine until the end of July, 2008. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Anxiety, depression, lack of confidence, saddness, worry, unhappiness. I’ve been seeing apsycologist for a couple of months, and I just get slight benefit. My question and dilema is: I wonder why it took so long for depression to set in. Has this happened to any of you???? If so, what made it better?

Cathy says on November 5th, 2008 at 5:40 am

It’s almost been a year since my artificial valve replacement and my anxiety and depression have gotten worse. I experienced anxiety before the replacement, but nothing like this!! My cardiologist does not think much about my psychological symptoms. I am very concerned that I will have to take these medications long term. Medications do work, but does anyone ever get better? Is depression and anxiety an undiagnosed result of open heart surgery that cardiologists are just dismissing? I find very little info. on this subject!! It’s very frustrating, especially since I am only 41 and have 4 young children to take care of!! I need to be psychologically well for them. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ADVICE ON THIS SUBJECT? Adam?

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