Originally published September 22 2005
Depression may worsen the risk of heart failure
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
In a recent study, depression was linked to high levels of protein in the blood, increasing the risk of inflammation and heart problems.
In a study of 32 people with heart failure, the 14 patients who felt the most depressed had nearly twice the levels of this protein in their blood.
The protein, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), is one member of a large family of proteins called cytokines, chemical messengers that are mobilized when the body is injured or has an infection.
These cytokines often cause inflammation in their effort to repair an injured or infected area of the body.
In the case of heart failure, this inflammation makes it even more difficult for the heart to pump blood.
(Heart failure is a disease in which the heart loses the ability to pump blood with normal efficiency.)
"People with heart failure typically have much higher TNF-alpha levels than people without the disease," said Amy Ferketich, the study's lead author and an assistant professor of public health at Ohio State.
The participants answered the 21-question Beck Depression Inventory, a tool that physicians and scientists use to measure symptoms of depression.
From these samples they evaluated levels of three cytokines: TNF-alpha, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta).
Previous research by other scientists has shown that the three cytokines, which all cause inflammation, are elevated in patients with heart failure.
Indeed, all of the patients in the study had higher-than-normal levels of each cytokine.
However, TNF-alpha was still markedly higher in patients who reported feeling depressed on a regular basis.
"That suggests that something about depression may trigger the production of TNF-alpha."
The researchers measured cytokine levels in picograms, or trillionths of a gram.
Patients with scores of 10 or higher on the BDI had levels of TNF-alpha nearly twice that of patients with a score less than 10 (4.9 pg/ml vs. 2.7 pg/ml.)
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml