Heart disease, stroke and your mental health

 In the event of a heart attack, cardiac arrest or stroke, the first priority is to physically treat the problem. But with heart disease and stroke, it’s becoming increasingly more important to address the psychological reactions that patients have after being diagnosed, treated and discharged from the hospital. In this episode, Dr. Gayla Tennen, a staff psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, explains the serious mental health impacts that many people experience following a heart attack or stroke. Caroline also shares the stories of Kathy Isaac, a woman who recently suffered a stroke, and Paul Goldberg, who had a heart attack. The episode will explore how the stress of these cardiovascular events can lead to different mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, difficulty focusing for long periods and more. As patients recover physically, they need more support to help them overcome the mental health challenges that can accompany heart conditions, stroke and vascular cognitive impairment. After listening to this episode, you’ll be reminded of the important fact that treating mental health is part of treating the entire person, not just their diagnosis.