If you are having a device for your heart put in and feel down, you might find it harder to keep taking your heart medicines.
That’s what a new study shown at ACNAP 2023, a big science meeting from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), found out.
Cardiac Medications: A Lifeline For The Heart
Mr. Ole Skov, a guy studying the psychology of heart patients in Denmark, says it’s important to keep taking these medicines. They help keep heart problems under control and stop new ones from coming up.
If you’re getting a heart device put in and feel down or worried, it’s important to talk about it. You might need to see a professional like a psychologist, who can help.
What’s An ICD And Why Does It Matter?
An ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) is a little device doctors put in your body if they think you might have a really bad irregular heartbeat or if you’ve already had a sudden heart stoppage.
About one in five people with an ICD also have depression or anxiety. This is a big deal because both of these mental health problems can make it more likely for people with an ICD to die.
Connecting the Dots Between Depression, ICD, and Medication Adherence
Usually, people with an ICD also get medicines to help their heart. But if they stop taking these medicines, they can get more heart problems and even die.
So, it’s super important to figure out who might stop taking their medicines and help them keep taking it.
The Study: Looking For Answers
This study looked at whether feeling down or worried when you get an ICD makes you more likely to stop taking your medicines a year later.
They checked this in a study that was already going on, which was looking at an online health program. They looked at over 400 people who were taking at least one heart medicine when they got their ICD.
How They Did It
They asked people how well they were taking their medicines when they got their ICD and again a year later. They also asked people how they were feeling when they got their ICD.
They found that people who felt more down when they got their ICD were a little bit more likely to stop taking their medicines a year later. But being worried didn’t make a big difference.
What This All Means
Mr. Skov says this shows that it’s important to think about how people are feeling when they get an ICD. People who feel down might be more likely to stop taking their medicines, even if they were taking them at first.
These people might need a little bit of extra help. It’s a small effect, but given how many things can affect whether people take their medicines, it’s not surprising. And, every little bit helps when it comes to keeping your heart healthy!
If you care about health, please read studies about scientists find a core feature of depression and this metal in the brain strongly linked to depression.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about drug for mental health that may harm the brain, and results showing this therapy more effective than ketamine in treating severe depression.
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