Battling Heart and Stroke

Background

Time and time again, studies have shown that many patients become depressed after suffering from major cardiac events. This occurs even after successful surgery and interventions. The reasons for this depression are many and may differ depending on the age of the patients (see previous post).

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In a previous post, I touched on the beneficial effects of laughter and positive emotions on our heart and vascular system. It is very common however, that heart patients, especially those above 60, suffer from depression, thereby further worsening their underlying heart conditions. However, a recent study conducted by researchers at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia may just have found a rehabilitation program that seems to greatly benefit heart patients physically as well as psychologically.

The researchers studied 74 patients who had heart failure and have been diagnosed with depression. The patients were split 4 groups, with each group receiving a different type of home-based rehabilitation program for 3 months, as described below: More →