Research suggests there is a significant association,
mediated through obesity, between symptoms of depression
and high blood pressure.
Psychological factors are known to be related to
high blood pressure and heart disease, lead researcher
Dr. Azad Alamgir Kabir stated. "This study shows a
probable pathway between depression and development
of (high blood pressure). If we know the causal pathways,
we can develop effective prevention techniques," the
researcher added.
The researchers studied 1,017 individuals, between
12 and 62 years old, from 561 families participating
in the Bogalusa Heart Study. Sixty percent were white
and 52 percent were women. On average, the subjects
were overweight, but not obese. Roughly one third
were presumed to have depression and 13.4 percent
had high blood pressure.
In the American Journal of Hypertension, Kabir from
Louisiana State University Health Science Center in
Shreveport and colleagues report that symptoms of
depression were associated with high blood pressure
indirectly through an association with increased body
weight in both whites and African Americans.
"Since depressed individuals are more likely to be
overweight, special care should be taken to address
the symptoms of depression in the general population,"
Kabir said. "Such a technique may also be helpful
to develop an effective weight reduction program and
subsequently (a high blood pressure) prevention program,"
the researcher added.
SOURCE: American Journal of Hypertension, June 2006.
