A recent study by King’s College London published in the scientific journal World Psychiatry revealed that people who suffer from bipolar, depression, schizophrenia, and other serious mental health ailments are 53 percent more likely to develop heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, compared to the general population.
The international study involved 3.2 million people with SMI (severe mental illness). The risk of dying of heart disease is 85 percent higher for patients with SMI than with people of similar ages in the groups studied who were without mental illness, according to the paper.
Much of the reason is because the mentally ill take antipsychotics, which can have big side effects including weight gain.
Furthermore, the life expectancy of people with mental illness is shortened by 10-17.5 years compared to the “normies,” or people without mood disorders.
The participants in the study came from the US, UK, Australia, France, and Sweden.
Rates of disease were higher for schizophrenia and depression than for people with bipolar disorder.
According to Dr. Brendon Stubbs of Kings College, these findings are a stark reminder that people with SMI are being left in the dark, at a time when the health of the general population is benefitting from public health initiatives.
“People with SMI die much earlier than those without these disorders, yet the majority of these premature deaths may be preventable with care that prioritizes lifestyle changes, such as exercise, better nutrition, and stopping smoking, along with cautious prescribing of antipsychotics,” Dr. Stubbs said.
All of these measures are easier said than done, especially for those of us who experience major depression. Finding the motivation to exercise or eat more healthily can be a tall order if you are depressed because of the lack of motivation. Still, it’s important for those of us with mental illness to take note. Our physical health is as important as our mental health.
