Did You Know?
Facts from PT's Blues Buster Newsletter
Hearts & Minds
• Depression in the early aftermath of bypass surgery, especially among men, heralds chest pain and other cardiac problems five years down the road. One third of bypass patients aredepressed shortly after surgery.
Seen Gene
• There's new evidence that genetic differences account for women having twice the risk of depression as men. Pittsburgh researchers identified a gene that influences susceptibility of women, but not men, to mood ills.
Felled by Stress
• Chronic psychological stress not only leads to depression, it impairs the ability of the immune system to heed ordinary signals. It paves the way for serious cardiac infections and allergic illnesses by prolonging inflammatory processes in the body.
