Diet is One Factor in What Causes Heart Disease
Relationship of Clinical Depression to Cardiovascular Disease Study
May 14, 2009
Dietary consumption of excessive fat and the intake of excessive calories are shown to be a major factor in heart disease, stroke, and heart failure according to the American Heart Association (AHA) (author unknown) article titled, “Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics- 2009 Update.” The article is published on the AHA web site with a 2009 date. The article contains numerous links about heart disease including statistics about the U.S. dietary consumption of adults, and “...estimated effects on cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes...and trends for all foods.”
Causes of Heart Attack & Heart Failure
In addition to a high fat diet, consumption of excessive calories, excessive Body Mass Index (BMI) (overweight), and obesity, diabetes is also a major factor for coronary disease and heart failure. The information can be found by entering the AHA article page link titled, “Risk Factors.” In the "Risk Factors" link is a study, conducted in 1993 through 2000, of 2,763 women. The purpose of the study was to determine the major reasons for heart failure (HF) in women. The study concluded, “....hypertension is a common risk factor for HF (heart failure) that contributed to a large proportion of HF cases....postmenopausal women with established coronary disease, diabetes was the strongest risk factor of HF."
Statistics About Heart Disease
“The 2005 overall death rate from cardiovascular disease (CVD) was 278.9 per 100,000 [population in the U.S.]” according published statistics in the article titled, “Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics- 2009 Update.” The death rate from CVD declined from 1995 through 2005 by 26.4%. CVD accounted for
34.2 % of all deaths in the U.S., in 2006. Some additional CVD U.S. statistics in the article are:
- One out of every 2.9 deaths was from CVD.
- 2,400 Die of CVD each day.
- 32% of deaths from CVD, in 2005, were before age 75.
- One of five deaths, in 2005, was from coronary heart disease (CHD.)
Additional heart disease statistics are listed on the article page.
Cardiovascular Heart Disease vs Clinical Depression
16% to 23% of patients with cardiovascular disease suffer from major depression symptoms, according to a study by The University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The study published on the PubMed web site is titled, “All You Have to Do is Call; a Pilot Study to Improve the Outcomes of Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.” The article is dated 01/20/2003. The authors are Norris CM, Galbraith D.and Hegadoren KM.
The purpose of the study was to ascertain benefits of providing information about mental health options to people who had coronary artery disease and depression symptoms.
The University of Alberta study included contact by mail and phone, from a nurse, to people with coronary artery disease who had undergone cardiac catheterization, and had depression symptoms. The nurse provided information about mental health resources. After six weeks the group was called again, and interviewed.
The University of Alberta study conclusion was “...early recognition strategies and referral protocols that address mental health needs are effective in decreasing the reported symptomatology of this high-risk population....[and] could potentially improve the health outcomes in this population.”
Both the American Heart Association, and the University of Alberta study, focus on diet, overweight, obesity, diabetes, and depression as contributing to heart, coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart failure. The AHA provides links on the article page which points out the need for a healthy life-style including exercise and maintaining a normal body mass index.
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