New study shows heart risks drop when anxiety is treated

A study suggests that treating anxiety and depression can help heart disease patients maintain their health, reducing emergency room visits and hospital stays.

According to a new study, people with heart disease can maintain their health if they take care of their emotional issues in addition to their medical conditions. According to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, treating anxiety and depression decreased ER visits and hospital stays among patients with heart disease. Dr. Philip Binkley, executive vice chair of internal medicine at Ohio State University, found that psychotherapy, mood-control medication, or a combination of both can lead to a 75% reduction in hospitalizations or ER visits.

According to Binkley in a news release, anxiety and depression are prevalent among those who have heart failure, and mental health is known to influence a person's chance of developing further health issues. A study involving 1,500 patients with heart failure or clogged arteries found that 56% had depression and 92% had anxiety. The study surveyed 22-64-year-old Medicaid patients, with 23% receiving psychotherapy and antidepressant medication, 15% receiving psychotherapy only, 29% receiving antidepressant medication only, and 33% receiving no mental health care.

The study found that combining medicine and talk therapy significantly reduced the likelihood of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and early deaths. Compared to medication alone, therapy alone reduced hospitalizations and ER visits. The study also found that anxiety and depression can worsen cardiac disease by triggering the fight-or-flight response, which increases blood pressure and heart rate.