Cardiovascular Health and Depression

What is depression?
Depression is not just "feeling sad." It is a disease that people with heart disease are more likely to have than people who do not. 
There are three things to understand about depression:

• Depression is not about who you are, it is about how you feel.
• Depression can be caused by many different things, including medications, stress and lack of exercise.
• You should keep asking for help until you find a solution that works for you.

Below are some tips to help you decide if you should talk to your doctor about depression and some of the ways he or she might help you.

---

Are you depressed?
Only a doctor can tell you if you have depression. Most doctors understand depression very well but often it is not diagnosed because people do not talk about their feelings and tend to hide their moods.

Talk as honestly about your moods with your doctor as you would about any other health concerns. Use the questions below to help you decide if you should talk to your doctor.

•  Have you been feeling sad or nervous for a while?
•  Do you feel gloomy and "out of it"?
•  Have you lost interest in hobbies or things you used to like to do?
•  Is it harder than usual to concentrate, remember things or make a decision?
•  Are you staying awake longer or oversleeping more often than usual?
•  Is your appetite what you think is "normal for you" or is your weight changing?
•  Are people telling you that you are more irritable or not paying enough attention?
•  Are you thinking of death or suicide frequently?

If you answer "yes" to four or more of these questions, make an appointment to talk to your doctor. Bring this with you to your next doctor's appointment. 

You can be helped
Depression is a treatable disease. It has different causes in different people, though, so each person has to be treated differently. 

• You might have to change your diet, change the medications you are taking or exercise more. 
• You might have to take a type of drug called an anti-depressant.
• You might be encouraged to take part in what is called "talk therapy." 

As your doctor will tell you, it may take a few tries to find the right treatment. There is usually not a quick solution. However, more than 80 percent of people with depression find ways to reduce or eliminate the disease and its symptoms.