Q&A
Depression and Heart Health

What is the correlation between heart problems and depression, and vice-versa? Behavioral scientist Adrienne O'Neil unravels the research.
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What does your research suggest about keto or paleo diets or even just a reduction in carbohydrates and sugar and increase in protein consumption for mood and heart health?
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Has your research found any advantages for resistance training over cardio in the treatment of depression and promoting heart health?
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Do behavioral factors such as poor diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol explain the association between depression and heart disease or are there other pathways that account for the relationship?
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Are there RCTs showing that treating depression reduces the risk of future heart disease? What treatments for depression have these focused on e.g., pharmacotherapy or CBT?
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Is it possible that chronic inflammation explains the link between depression and heart disease? If so, what interventions would you recommend to target this?
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What is the proposed mechanism through which intermittent fasting can positively influence heart failure and mood? Could time restricted feeding (e.g., eating within an 8 hour window) potentially have the same effects?
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Are you seeing increases in children who are at risk of developing heart disease and depression as they get older?
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What do you see as the best way to address the health burden of depression and heart disease in Australia?
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How does vascular health impact the brain?
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What sort of exercise is best for alleviating symptoms of depression and improving heart health?
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I’m interested in whether you think the HAES movement is effective in improving depression and heart disease?
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Is there a correlation between other mood disorders and heart disease?
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Can you talk about the correlation between substance abuse, heart disease and depression?
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Is there a particular age when instances of depression and heart disease peak?
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What sort of impact do you think diet has on mood and heart health?
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Are there particular interventions for depression that your research has focused on?
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What’s the one lifestyle choice you’d love to see people adopting to improve heart health and depression?
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Do you think heart disease tends to precipitate depression? Or vice versa? Or is there no way to untangle the relationship between the two?
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Why is there such a correlation between heart health and mental health?
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How are depression and arrhythmias related? I've had episodes of SVT all my life, and depression as an adult. Even after an ablation six months ago, I still feel pounding (although episodes are not nearly as bad) and wonder if this time around, it's due to depression? Any advice?
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