Risk factors for heart disease are well known -- smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol -- but UAB researchers are looking at clinical depression as another potential risk factor for heart disease.
"Recent reports in the medical literature indicate that depression may increase the risk for heart attack among men," says Jerome Markovitz, M.D., UAB associate professor of preventive medicine. Markovitz says patients diagnosed with depression often have increased activity of blood platelets. Increased platelet activity may increase the likelihood of clotting, which could contribute to heart attack.
Markovitz is studying whether serotonin reuptake inhibitors, commonly used for treatment of depression, have an effect on platelet activity.
Contact Bob Shepard, Media Relations, 205-934-8934 or [email protected].
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