Chronic stress in depression directly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Chronic stress associated with depression and anxiety disorders directly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke — this conclusion was reached by scientists from Massachusetts General Hospital. The study, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging (CCI), showed that individuals with depression and anxiety activate the brain's 'stress' areas, disrupt the functioning of the nervous system, and increase systemic inflammation, which over time damages blood vessels.
The authors analyzed data from more than 85,000 participants in the Massachusetts General Hospital biobank, who were monitored for an average of 3.4 years. During this time, more than 3,000 individuals experienced serious cardiovascular events — heart attack, stroke, or heart failure. The risk was elevated in both individuals with depression and those with anxiety disorders, but it was highest in patients with both diagnoses — approximately 32 percent higher than in those with only one disorder.
Further analysis revealed the biological chain of this effect: patients with depression and anxiety exhibited increased activity in the amygdala — the brain area responsible for the stress response, reduced heart rate variability, and elevated levels of C-reactive protein — a marker of chronic inflammation. According to the researchers, this combination leads to increased blood pressure, a faster pulse, and gradual damage to blood vessels.
The scientists emphasize that the results do not prove a direct causal relationship, but clearly indicate the importance of mental health in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
