From: unk...@googlegroups.com   
      
   Mental illness linked to increased risk of heart disease, stroke   
      
   Last updated: 27 October 2014 at 8am PST   
      
   People with mental health disorders may be at much higher risk of heart   
   disease or stroke than the general population. This is according to a new   
   study recently presented at this year's Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in   
   Vancouver, Canada.   
   An x-ray of a person after experiencing a stroke   
   Researchers found that patients who had a mental illness at any point in their   
   life were twice as likely to have had a stroke or experienced heart disease   
   than the general population.   
   According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, around 1 in 4 adults in   
   the US experience some form of mental illness in any given year. Approximately   
   1 in 17 adults live with a severe mental illness, such as major depression,   
   schizophrenia or    
   bipolar disorder.   
      
   Past studies have associated mental health disorders with increased risk of   
   cardiovascular problems. Last year, for example, Medical News Today reported   
   on a study linking bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, neurotic disorders and   
   other mental illnesses    
   to a higher risk of coronary heart disease.   
      
   For this latest study, the research team - led by Dr. Katie Goldie, a   
   postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto,   
   Canada - set out to gain a better understanding of the link between mental   
   illness and cardiovascular risk.   
      
   They analyzed data from the Canadian Community Health Survey, involving   
   patients with schizophrenia, bipolar, major depression and anxiety disorders.   
   MNT were unable to identify how many people were included in the study at the   
   time of publication.   
      
   The researchers assessed patients' use of medication for their mental health   
   disorders. The drugs used included antipsychotic medications, antidepressants,   
   psychoactive medication (benzodiazepine) and mood-stabilizing drugs. They also   
   looked at the    
   incidence of cardiovascular events among participants.   
      
   They found that patients who had a mental illness at any point in their life   
   were twice as likely to have had a stroke or experienced heart disease than   
   the general population, while patients who had not experienced heart disease   
   or stroke had a higher    
   long-term risk of cardiovascular disease.   
      
   Furthermore, patients who used psychiatric medications for their mental   
   illness were twice as likely to have heart disease and three times as likely   
   to have had a stroke than those who did not use such medications.   
      
   "This population is at high risk," says Dr. Goldie, "and it's even greater for   
   people with multiple mental health issues."   
      
   What increases the risk of cardiovascular problems among mental health   
   patients?   
   The team identified a number of factors that may explain why people with   
   mental health disorders are at higher risk of cardiovascular problems.   
      
   Fast facts about mental health disorders   
   Around 50% of all chronic mental health disorders begin by the age of 14,   
   while 75% occur before the age of 24   
   Around 60% of adults and 50% of youths with a mental illness received no   
   mental health services in the past year   
   Serious mental illness costs the US around $193.2 billion in lost earnings   
   every year.   
   Learn more about mental health disorders   
   Firstly, Dr. Goldie notes that people with mental illness often adopt   
   behaviors that increase their risk of such problems, including a poor diet,   
   smoking, drinking alcohol and lack of exercise. When it comes to smoking, for   
   example, she points out that    
   40-90% of Canadians with a mental health disorder smoke tobacco, compared with   
   20% of the general population.   
      
   Dr. Goldie says that psychiatric medications account for a lot of the elevated   
   cardiovascular risk among patients with mental illness. She explains that the   
   drugs can trigger weight gain, as well as interfere with the body's breakdown   
   of fats and sugars.    
   This may lead to obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol.   
      
   Furthermore, Dr. Goldie says that individuals with mental health disorders   
   often have problems talking about their illness, or the symptoms of their   
   illness may stop them from seeking care. "A separation between primary and   
   mental health services can    
   also challenge these patients' care," she adds. "We need improved integration   
   and collaboration."   
      
   Dr. Goldie says the stigma that remains attached to mental health disorders   
   may even affect the care given by health professionals. She points out that   
   patients with these disorders are less likely to receive treatments that   
   reduce the risk of adverse    
   cardiovascular outcomes or undergo coronary procedures, such as bypass surgery.   
      
   Mental health patients require closer attention from health care providers   
   Based on their findings, the research team believes health care professionals   
   should be more attentive when it comes to treating patients with mental health   
   disorders.   
      
   They believe these patients should undergo routine cardiovascular health   
   assessments before and after receiving psychiatric medications, and be offered   
   interventions that help reduce the risk of cardiovascular health issues.   
      
   Dr. Brian Baker, of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada - a co-host of   
   the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress alongside the Canadian Cardiovascular   
   Society - adds:   
      
   "The prevention strategies are the same for people with mental health issues.   
   That means eating a healthy diet, being physically active, being smoke-free,   
   managing stress and limiting alcohol consumption. Making positive health   
   behavior changes is    
   important to our physical health and to mental health, too."   
      
   He adds that ongoing follow-up with health care professionals is "essential"   
   for mental health patients. Furthermore, he notes that although certain   
   psychiatric drugs may increase the risk of cardiovascular health issues, the   
   benefits often outweigh the    
   risks, therefore patients should not stop taking their prescribed medications.   
      
   MNT recently reported on a study suggesting that the effects of mental stress   
   on the heart differ between men and women.   
      
   Written by Honor Whiteman   
      
   http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/284461.php?tw   
      
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