Spouses of Heart Attack Victims at Risk

A new study finds that spouses of heart attack victims are at risk for depression, anxiety or suicide, even if their partner survives.  The researchers also found that men are more susceptible than women to depression and suicide after a partner has a heart attack.  In a Denmark national study, more than three times the number of people whose spouses died of a heart attack were using antidepressants in the year after the event, compared with the year before.  Nearly 50 times as many people whose spouses died of a heart attack were using medications to treat anxiety.  People whose spouses survived a heart attack had a 17% higher use of antidepressants in the year after the event, compared with the year before.  The use of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicines was higher among people whose spouses died from or survived a heart attack than among those whose spouses were hospitalized or died from other causes.  The sudden and unexpected nature of a heart attack may be the reason that it has a greater impact on a spouse than other health problems, the researchers suggested.

Source:  European Heart Journal, news release, Aug. 22, 2012 



Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309