Hopelessness increases stroke risk

Depression and hopelessness could increase the risk of stroke in women, a new study has found.

According to the study of more than 550 women, researchers from the US found that even in otherwise healthy women, those who are chronically hopeless are more likely to develop heart disease or stroke.

“These findings suggest that women who experience feelings of hopelessness may have greater risk for future heart disease and stroke,” the researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School in the US said.

Many previous studies have linked depression with cardiovascular disease and stroke, while a recent study found that optimistic women have a lower risk of heart disease.

In the new study, the researchers found that women who felt hopeless or depressed were more likely to have a build-up of plaque in their neck arteries – something which can trigger a stroke.

“What we found is, those women who reported feeling hopeless about the future or their personal goals had more thickening in the neck arteries (atherosclerosis) which is a predictor of stroke and subsequent heart attack,” the researchers said.

The difference was significant even after adjusting for other heart risk factors.

“Women should be aware that feelings of hopelessness may have physical consequences,” the researchers added.

“If women do have these strong feelings, it is potentially a predictor of cardiovascular disease and they should speak to their GP,” they concluded.

The study was published in the journal Stroke.

[Posted: Sat 29/08/2009]