Depression is one of the risk factors of a stroke

Scientists have found that depression leading to cancer, diabetes and heart diseases is also one of the risk factors for a stroke.

About 6 million people suffer a stroke every year worldwide, while in Russia this number accounts for more than 450,000. The stroke is the second most common cause of death after heart diseases. It is attributed to diseases that cause vascular pathologies of the brain, which lead to the death of separate areas of the brain tissue. The symptoms are various. These include an unexpected numbness of the muscles, speech disorder, visual impairment, headaches. Since the disease is characterized by severe complications that can even cause death,doctors recommend consider the risk factors for acute disorders of cerebral circulation. These include age, hypertension, genetic predisposition, diabetes, smoking, oral contraception. In addition, an important place among these factors is assigned to repeated stresses and prolonged neuropsychological overstrain, insufficient physical activity.

Scientists found that people who are depressed are also at risk of developing a stroke. This is a common mental disorder, in which a person first faces problems with sleep, irritability, mood suppression. A lack of treatment results in a complete refusal to perform most vital functions. The results of the analysis of 28 studies, including more than 300,000 patients, showed a significantly increased risk of stroke and related death among people suffering from depression. The scientists have identified more than 8,478 cases of stroke during the monitoring. The depression increased the risk by 45% in a general stroke, by 25% in ischemic stroke and by 55% in case of a fatal disease. The relationship with the hemorrhagic stroke has not been identified.

The depression contributes to the development of stroke by using various mechanisms, including neuroendocrine, immunological or inflammatory processes. The increased risk for disorders of this type can also be related to the level of hormones in the nervous system. Another possible explanation for this relationship may be the effect of medications taken during the treatment of depression.Antidepressants work in several ways: chemically and by side effects (for example, weight gain). In addition, there has been detected a link between the unhealthy lifestyle, smoking, poor nutrition and lack of physical activity. Scientists also reported that depression affects the development of obesity, diabetes, heart diseases. Thus, when diagnosing stroke, one should take into account not only the patient’s physical condition, but also a mental state. The timely detection of depression and other abnormalities will help to reduce the number of strokes by several times.

Here you can also read other articles on this topic:

• Stroke - symptoms and first aid
• When the patient impedes treatment
• Coffee for stroke prevention

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