Thanks to advances in medical care, babies with heart defects have improved survival rates in recent decades. However, many people living with CHD face various psychological challenges.
Psychological support is critical for these patients. That’s why the American Heart Association has issued a new scientific statement that calls for mental health professionals to be included in congenital heart care teams.
Relationships
People with congenital heart disease need continuous family support because of their repeated follow-ups, treatments and complications. This can be incredibly challenging for a young person in their first relationship.
Despite these challenges, studies have shown that relationships are essential to a person’s psychological well-being. Having an intimate partner is associated with better mental health and quality of life, but strain and disruption in these relationships are linked to poorer outcomes.
This research explored how people with heart disease are affected by their relationships and how they influence their lives. They discovered that individuals with heart disease are more susceptible to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. This is why organizations like Conquering CHD exist to overcome the difficulties of living with CHD.
Anxiety
People with congenital heart disease may experience significant effects from anxiety, a common mental health problem. It can cause feelings of stress, apprehension, and physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, or dizziness.
An anxiety disorder can affect a person’s everyday life and relationships. It is also linked to a higher risk of suicide.
It is unclear why people get anxiety disorders, but research shows a connection between genetics and environmental factors. Twin studies suggest 30-40% of individual differences in anxiety are genetic.
Depression
A common mental health issue is depression (major depressive disorder). It affects up to a third of people at some point in their lives and can be very distressing. It can cause many negative feelings, such as low self-esteem, sadness and loss of interest in your usual activities.
In most cases, depression responds well to treatment if diagnosed early on. However, sometimes depression can be caused by other medical conditions, so it’s important to rule this out before seeking help.
Depression can severely impact a person’s ability to cope with heart disease. It can make concentrating harder at work or study and affect relationships. In addition, prolonged depression can worsen your condition and increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.
Insomnia
Insomnia is when people have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. It can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic).
In addition to being physically and mentally exhausting, insomnia can affect a person’s ability to work, interact with others, and have relationships. Additionally, it can raise the risk of heart disease and other illnesses.
Numerous things can contribute to it, including your sleeping patterns and surroundings. Your doctor can suggest a course of treatment and assist you in identifying the cause of your insomnia.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are severe mental health problems that can affect anyone. They’re caused by a combination of genetics, environment and social factors.
People with eating disorders are often preoccupied with food, weight and body image. They may also be preoccupied with emotions and feelings related to their condition.
They can affect a person’s ability to eat, sleep and function properly. This can lead to severe complications such as heart problems, problems with bowel movements and poor concentration.
The three eating disorders that are the most prevalent are binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa. Other conditions include avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, rumination disorder and pica. Medications for anorexia and bulimia can help people regain their weight. They can also aid in lowering the danger of cardiovascular complications.
