Researchers from McGill University in Canada found that people who take antidepressants are down 12 percent. less likely to suffer a stroke.
Antidepressanty a beat
Almost 1 million patients taking popular medications for depression participated in the study. Some of them were taking SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and the rest of them taking other antidepressants. The authors of the study followed the fate of patients for 6 years. During this time, almost 16 thousand. of them had a stroke. After analyzing the data, it turned out that the disease was less common in people who took SSRIs.
Experts found that thanks to these measures, the risk of stroke was 12 percent. lower. This was due to the increased secretion of serotonin in the brain. The results of the analysis were published in the medical journal “Neurology”.
Depression and other diseases
The new discovery is important for people suffering from depression because they are at increased risk of stroke and heart attack. Why? Scientists are still trying to find the answer to this question. It is likely that people with depression are not interested in their own health, do not seek medical attention, avoid physical activity, and do not care for a balanced diet. This may worsen the condition of the cardiovascular system.
It is not yet known why serotonin “protects” the brain from blood clots, which can potentially be fatal.
Could Medicines For Depression Be An Effective For Stroke Prevention? Experts choke optimism – the observed decrease in the risk of stroke was relatively small and further analysis is needed. They recommend that doctors continue to prescribe medications that work best for the symptoms reported by a particular patient.
Also read:
- 5 myths about antidepressants
- Prozac – the happiness pill?
- Psychotropics, or what to treat depression