Heart attack warning: Depression symptoms may signal you

Professor Emanuele Di Angelantonio, BHF-funded researcher at the University of Cambridge, said:

“This is the largest evidence to date that feelings related to depression are associated with a person’s chance of having heart disease or stroke in the future.

“The observed higher risk is small in magnitude and these results are just one piece of the puzzle. We now need to do more research to understand whether these observed associations are causal and the possible biology behind this link.”

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said:

“Our mental and physical health go hand-in-hand. It’s clear from this research that our hearts and minds are more connected than we previously thought. By exploring this link further, we may find new ways of helping to improve our heart health.

“However, it is important to stress that the increased risk is modest and observed over a long period of time. It should not alarm those currently experiencing low mood or feelings of depression about their immediate heart health.”