Heart Failure and Depression

This will help you learn how to know the difference between heart failure and depression.  It will also give you resources to help in you.

 

• Depression is common in people with heart failure
  • 15-20% of patients with heart attacks have severe depression.
  • It is higher in women than men.
• Depression can lead to more symptoms of heart failures that will decrease your quality of life.
• Heart failure and depression have some of the same signs and symptoms.

 

After being diagnosed with heart failure many people react differently but a majority of people will have: anxiety, denial, depression, and fear.  It is ok to have these feelings but it is important to be aware of them.  Recognizing them can help you talk to your health care provider.  They can help provide plan with you to cope with these feelings.

 

Signs of Depression

 

• Feeling sad, lonely, irritable, and little interest in doing what you used to do for fun.
• Having less energy or no energy to do things that you used to do.
• Need more sleep.
• No desire for food.
• Weight changes.
• Having thoughts of guilt, worthlessness, and hopelessness most of the time.
• Feel like you have nothing to live for.

 

Signs of Heart Failure

 

• You have no energy.
• Tired easily.
• Feeling crabby and on edge.
• Don’t want to eat.
• Hard to breathe when at rest or lying flat.
• Gain weight despite loss of appetite.
• Swollen abdomen, legs, arms, and face.
• Out of breath or cough.
• Chest congestion.

 

 

What can you do?

 

Have a healthy way of life.  This can help you feel better and decrease your chance of heart failure.

 

• Avoid tobacco and alcohol
• Eating a heart-healthy diet by including an adequate intake of the following:
  • Calories
  • Cholesterols
  • Fat
  • Fibers
  • Sodium
• Exercise-it can reduce your depressive symptoms and improve cardiac fitness.
• Get enough sleep.
• Take your medicine.

 

Find a positive way to change your life.  Learn about your illness and how it affects you. Then think about how you cope with stress and write down what does not help.  Come up with new plan and put it to use.  Skills to cope are:

 

• Do talk to your family and friends.
• Stay active with your hobbies/activities that you used to do.
• Learn to relax.
• Learn to avoid blaming yourself.
• Set priorities-write a “to do list” and rest in between.
• Allow yourself grieving time-everyone needs time to come to term with their lost.
• Join a support group-you are not alone.
• Seek help to deal with grief, anxiety, depression, and other problems.

 

***Talk to your health care provider if you notice any signs and symptoms of depression. 

 

Resources for you

 

www.americanheart.org

 

www.mentalhealthamerica.net

 

www.mendedhearts.org

 

www.namiwisconsin.org

 

National Mental Health Center:  http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/            

Provides a locator to mental health centers throughout the nation. 

                                                                               

UW-Heart Failure Management Program          (608) 263-1690

 

UW-Women’s Heart Health Program               (608) 263-1530

 

Adult Mental Health Services-Dane County Department of Human Services    (608) 280-2710

 

National Aliance on Mental Health-Dane County

            (608) 249-7188

            contact@namidanecounty.org2059 Atwood Avenue
Madison, WI 53704

 

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Dane County Wisconsin

            http://www.dbsadanecounty.org/index.html            

East Madison: (608) 345-3599

            West Madison: dbsa.melissa@gmail.com

 

References

 

(2007). Heart Failure. Retrieved March 18, 2009, from American Hearts Association website: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1486

 

(“n.d”). Coping with Depression. Retrieved March 18, 2009, from The Mended Hearts, Inc: www.mendedhearts.org.

 

Andrews, P. & Juncker, B. (“n.d”). The Next Steps: Living Your Life. [Pamphlet].

 

Johansson, P., Dahlstrom, U., & Brostrom, A. (2006). Consequences and Predictors of Depression in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure: Implications for Nursing Care and Future Research. Progress in Cardiovascular Nursing, 202-211. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from Nursing Consult database.

 

Koenig, H. (2006). Recognition of Depression in Medical Patients With Heart Failure. Psychosomatics, 48(4), 338-347. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PubMed database.

 

Lesman-Leegt, I., Jaarsma, T., Sanderman, R., Hillege, H., &Veldhuisen, D. (2008). Determinants of Depressive Symptoms in Hospitalised Men and Women With Heart Failure. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 7, 121-126. Retrieved March 12, 2009 from Nursing Consult database.

 

Thomas, S., Chapa, D., Friedmann, E., Durdan, C., Ross, A., Lee, M., & et. al. (2008). Depression in Patients With Heart Failure: Prevalence, Pathophysiological Mechanisms, and Treatment. Critical Care Nurse Journals, 28(2), 40-55. Retrieved February 25, 2009, from PubMed database.

 

 

The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 04/13/2009

Copyright © 04/13/2009 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. UWH #6885

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