In a new study from Emory University, researchers found younger adults with depression or anxiety may be more likely to have lower levels of cardiovascular health.
They found adults ages 18-34 who have moderate to severe anxiety or depression were more likely to smoke and have excess weight and were less likely to get adequate exercise.
This is the latest contribution to a growing body of research showing how depression and anxiety impact heart health.
Federal statistics show about 8% of U.S. adults had depression in 2019, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the percentage of U.S. adults who experienced depression or anxiety jumped from 36.4% to 41.5%, with the highest spike among people ages 18-29, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the study, the team analyzed self-reported data from 882 young adults. They classified the participants as having poor, intermediate or ideal levels of Life’s Simple 7.
The seven metrics are blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, physical activity, diet, weight and not smoking.
The finding showed 134 participants – about 15% – had moderate to severe anxiety. They were less likely to have optimal levels of physical activity, smoking and weight, and a cardiovascular health score 0.91 points lower, compared to those without the condition.
Similarly, 15% of participants had moderate to severe depression and scored worse on the same metrics, as well as cholesterol and blood pressure.
The team says these findings suggest that scientists should start looking at both depression/anxiety and cardiovascular health in younger adults.
Doctors should continue to routinely screen their younger patients for depression and anxiety – and to look out for cardiovascular issues at the same time.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about this mental health issue may double your risk of dementia and findings of this depression drug could shut down the brain if used too much.
For more information about mental disease and your wellness, please see recent studies about inflammation strongly linked to mental sluggishness and results showing that long-term use of depression drug may increase risk of type 2 diabetes.
The study was presented at the American Heart Association’s virtual Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Conference. One author of the study is Sierra Patterson.
Copyright © 2021 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
