| A new study has found that people with serious mental illnesses have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than the general population. Compared to the general population, people with serious mental illnesses have a high risk of cardiovascular disease. The risk can be up to double that of people without such disorders. Moreover, people with serious mental illness have a higher rate of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure than the general population. |
There are many factors that go into the association between serious mental illnesses and heart disease. These factors include socioeconomics, food quality, healthcare access, and the use of medications.
There is an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. Researchers found that people with these disorders have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than previously thought. They also found that people with bipolar disorder were more likely to develop high-risk heart disorders at younger ages.
There have been many studies investigating the relationship between mental illness and heart disease, but the majority have not been successful in replicating the findings. One study found that people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder had a higher risk of heart disease than people without those disorders.
There is a large overlap in the symptoms associated with mental disorders and cardiovascular disease. These symptoms are related to stress hormones, which can increase the risk of heart problems.
People with severe mental illness also tend to smoke, be overweight, and have high blood pressure. These can not only further complicate their physical health issues but also strongly contribute towards a deteriorating heart health.