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News
Stress and depression aren't just mental health concerns — they're cardiovascular ones too. Research shows depression affects ~20% of people with CV disease, and the two conditions share biological pathways that create a dangerous feedback loop. Experts are now urging clinicians to routinely screen for mental health and factor in sex and gender when assessing heart disease risk.
Stress and depression don't just weigh on the mind — they take a serious toll on the heart. At the 127th National Congress of the Italian Society of Internal Medicine (SIMI), Dr. Valeria Raparelli of Sapienza University of Rome highlighted how psychological and social factors are deeply intertwined with cardiovascular (CV) risk, and why a one-size-fits-all approach to heart health is no longer sufficient.
Depression and CV disease share overlapping biological mechanisms — including oxidative stress, inflammation, and overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system — creating a bidirectional relationship where each condition can worsen the other. Women face compounding vulnerabilities due to both biological factors and gender-related social determinants like lower income and educational attainment, with heightened risk during postpartum and postmenopausal periods.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Cardiovascular disease is still a leading cause of death globally, and mental health is a major — yet often overlooked — piece of the puzzle. Integrating routine mental health screening and sex/gender-specific approaches into CV care could meaningfully improve outcomes for millions of patients.
