Kill depression to cut heart risks

Depression often put people's hearts in danger, but now, a team of researchers has revealed that by lowering the blueness, it is possible to keep risk of major cardiovascular problems at bay.

The study by researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City found that effectively treating depression can reduce a patient's chance of having a stroke, heart failure, a heart attack or death.

In fact, effective treatment for depression can reduce a patient's heart risks to the same level as those who never had short-term depression, the study found.

"Our study shows that prompt, effective treatment of depression appears to improve the risk of poor heart health," said researcher Heidi May.

"With the help of past research, we know depression affects long-term cardiovascular risks, but knowing that alleviating the symptoms of depression reduces a person's risk of heart disease in the short term, too, can help care providers and patients commit more fully to treating the symptoms of depression," she said.

May concluded that if depression isn't treated, the risk of cardiovascular complications increases significantly.

Results are presented at the 2016 American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions in Chicago.