Yes, This article will help you: Depression is hard on the heart Depression, anxiety, and stress not only impair a person s mental well-being; they may also trigger angina pain or discomfort. Stressful emotions can cause an increase of hormones in the nervous system that activate the fight-or-flight response, causing higher blood pressure and a faster heart rate that, in turn, increase the work of the heart. Blood flow—already slowed by narrowed arteries caused by coronary artery disease (CAD)—is decreased, which may then increase the risk of an angina attack. The more attacks a patient has, the more depressed he or she may become, which again may affect the arteries and heart. Patients may enter a vicious cycle of angina pain or discomfort and decreased well-being. In addition, their physical fitness level may decrease because they are participating in fewer physical activities. On a practical level, depression may make patients with angina less motivated to comply with medical treatment and make healthy lifestyle changes, such as exercising and eating well. Not complying with a drug regimen can backfire, because medications work best when they are taken on a regular schedule that helps keep adequate levels of drugs in the blood. When a depressed person doesn t feel motivated to exercise, but instead turns to cigarettes, alcohol, or overeating to cope with emotional pain, he or she may be courting obesity, diabetes, and a risk of worsening heart disease. Depression often goes hand-in-hand with anxiety, another emotion that can be harmful. In one study of heart attack survivors, anxiety was linked to higher rates of rehospitalization for cardiac problems and more frequent doctor s visits for heart symptoms. Females have 30% chances more than males.