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Depression linked to increased risk of irregular heartbeat

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Depressed people could be at an increased risk of developing irregular heartbeat, says a study.

Anti-depressants have been previously linked with some serious, but rare heart rhythm disturbances, prompting the question of whether they might also raise the risk of atrial fibrillation.

However, in the study, the risk of irregular heartbeat was 7.65-fold higher before starting anti-depressants, suggesting that anti-depressant medication itself is not associated.

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On the other hand, taking anti-depressant drugs helped reduce the depressive symptoms, the study showed.

“The message for patients who already have atrial fibrillation is that you do not need to be concerned about taking anti-depressant medication if you need it,” said Morten Fenger-Gron, from the Aarhus University in Denmark.

“Look after your mental health because our study supports existing evidence that problems with the mind can be detrimental for the heart,” he added.

For the study, the team included 785,254 Danish citizens initiating antidepressant treatment.

The risk of atrial fibrillation was assessed after starting treatment and in the month before when it was assumed that patients were depressed but medically untreated.

The findings, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, showed that patients taking anti-depressants — used as an indicator of depression — had a 3.18-fold higher risk of atrial fibrillation during the first month of treatment compared with the general population.

However, the association gradually reduced thereafter — to 1.37-fold at 2 to 6 months and 1.11-fold at 6 to 12 months.

Image result for Depression linked to increased risk of irregular heartbeat

“Filling a prescription for anti-depressants, which we used as an indicator of depression, was associated with a three-fold greater risk of atrial fibrillation. The decrease with time could suggest that treatment may alleviate this risk,” Fenger-Gron said.

Atrial fibrillation causes 20 to 30 per cent of all strokes and increases the risk of dying prematurely which include signs such as palpitations, shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain and dizziness.

Corona

Covid toll in Karnataka is a worrying sign for state government

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Even though Karnataka recorded the lowest number of Covid deaths in April since the virus struck first in 2020, the state is recording a rise in the positivity rate (1.50 per cent). Five people died from the Covid infections in April as per the statistics released by the state health department. In March, the positivity rate stood around 0.53 per cent. In the first week of April it came down to 0.38 per cent, second week registered 0.56 per cent, third week it rose to 0.79 per cent and by end of April the Covid positivity rate touched 1.19 per cent.

on an average 500 persons used to succumb everyday in the peak of Covid infection, as per the data. Health experts said that the mutated Coronavirus is losing its fierce characteristics as vaccination, better treatment facilities and awareness among the people have contributed to the lesser number of Covid deaths.

During the 4th and 6th of April two deaths were reported in Bengaluru, one in Gadag district on April 8, two deaths were reported from Belagavi and Vijayapura on April 30. The first Covid case was reported in the state in March 2020 and three Covid deaths were recorded in the month. In the following month 21 people became victims to the deadly virus, and May 2020 recorded 22 deaths. The death toll recorded everyday after May crossed three digits. However, the third wave, which started in January 2

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