Can depression be overcome after a heart attack?

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Can depression be overcome after a heart attack?
Can depression be overcome after a heart attack?
Anonim

My husband is 51 years old. He had a heart attack a year ago. Despite the fact that doctors allowed him to return to work, he does everything possible to avoid it. He is always dissatisfied, irritable, constantly in a bad mood. He sleeps poorly, complains of feeling constantly tired, even though he does nothing at home.

Six months before the heart attack, my husband gave up smoking. But now he started smoking again and smokes no less than one pack a day. He was also recently diagnosed with diabetes. So far, doctors are unable to regulate the blood sugar level within normal limits. In addition to all these problems, my husband lost interest in sex. I can't put into words how this situation depresses me. We have been together for many years and now it hurts to see how he has changed in the last year. I really want to help him, but I don't know how. I hope your specialists can advise me how to proceed?

Your husband's problems that you describe in your letter are interrelated and make things worse for each other. Studies show that the risk of a heart attack is doubled in people suffering from even mild depression compared to those without such problems.

Deaths from a heart attack in people with depression are 10 times more than those of others. 25% of people who have had a heart attack develop clinical depression. The effect of smoking on the development of atherosclerosis is well known. Less well known is that half of all cases of erectile dysfunction in men over 40 are related to smoking. Studies show that the blockage of blood vessels as a result of smoking not only leads to erectile dysfunction, but also to a significant reduction in penis size.

The relationship between smoking and depression is complex enough. But young people who are depressed have been known to start smoking, drinking and using drugs to relieve their condition. When a person in adulthood tries to get rid of these bad habits, in addition to severe withdrawal symptoms, he also develops clinical depression. You write to us that they also discovered diabetes in your husband. Diabetes is known to cause blockage of blood vessels, which adversely affects the heart.

Clogging of blood vessels and diabetic neuropathy, damage to nerve endings adversely affects male potency. One of the manifestations of diabetes is depression. Untreated depression, in turn, is an obstacle to normalizing blood sugar levels.

By the way: depression interferes with sex

Yes, it's a fact - depression negatively affects sexual function in men. This is probably happening to you too. On the other hand, the lack of sex in two partners exacerbates depression - a vicious circle results. In addition to all this, people suffering from depression lack the mental strength and motivation to follow the instructions of their treating doctor and adhere to a he althy lifestyle.

From all this it follows that if you want to help your husband, you and the other members in the family, you will have to mobilize all your strength to convince him to comply with all the prescriptions of the doctors.

The treatment of the problems you describe must be complex. Heart problems, depression, diabetes and sexual dysfunction need to be treated and rehabilitated at the same time.

It is desirable that your husband is treated in a center where doctors from different disciplines will be able to interact in the treatment of the whole complex of problems. Despite the complex intertwining of different diseases in your husband, there is an effective treatment for most of them. As long as he follows the recommendations of his treating doctor.

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