Symptoms of depression in older men with no past history of depression may be a warning sign of cardiovascular disease. Newly depressed older men, but not women, were approximately twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease in the near term, compared with men who were never depressed, researchers found. Newly depressed, but not chronically depressed, mood should be considered a major risk factor. Men who were newly diagnosed as depressed had twice the risk of a cardiovascular event during the next 5 years, compared with men who had no symptoms of depression. The idea that depression can affect heart disease is not new. Researchers know that psychological stress increases resting heart rate and blood pressure, decreases heart rate variability, and increases the risk of arrhythmia and heart attacks.

American Journal of Cardiology (1998;81:988-994)

COMMENT: As most of you know, using foods to treat chronic illness is my passion. However, I am convinced that unresolved emotional trauma and its consequences causes more heart attacks and cancers than eating the wrong foods, smoking, or lack of exercise.