Anxiety, depression may worsen your heart health
New York, July 8: Symptoms of depression and anxiety are present in about one-third of patients with heart failure and these patients are at a higher risk of progressive heart diseases and other adverse outcomes, a new study suggests.
The study, published in the journal Harvard Review of Psychiatry, found evidence confirming "markedly higher" rates of depression and anxiety disorders among patients with heart failure, compared to the general population.
Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood, causing symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath.
"Depression has been linked to the development and progression of heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases," said co-author Christopher Celano from Harvard University' s Medical School.
The researchers said that previous studies have linked psychiatric disorders to worse outcomes in patients with heart failure.
To clarify these relationships, the researchers did a targeted review of research on associations between heart failure, depression, and anxiety.
The researchers found that anxiety is highly frequent among patients with heart failure and both physiological and behavioural factors may contribute to adverse outcomes.
Nearly 30 per cent of patients have clinically significant anxiety symptoms, while 13 per cent meet diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders (such as generalized anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder or panic disorder).
Depression and anxiety may make it more difficult for patients with heart failure to follow recommendations for diet, exercise and medication use. Earlier studies have also linked depression to metabolic changes, including increased levels of inflammatory markers, the researchers added.
The researchers noted that formal diagnostic interviews (i.e. based on DSM-5 criteria) can help in assessing the cause of overlapping symptoms between heart failure and depression or anxiety including problems with sleep, concentration, or energy.
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Australian woman fined for stealing Chanel perfume from airport duty-free store after two years
Singapore: A 35-year-old Australian national, Raj Varsha, was fined $750 by a Singapore court on April 11 after pleading guilty to stealing a bottle of Chanel perfume valued at nearly $250 from a duty-free store at Changi Airport in March 2023.
According to court proceedings, the incident occurred at around 4:10 a.m. on March 22, 2023, when Varsha entered The Shilla Duty Free store located in the Terminal 1 departure transit area.
State Prosecuting Officer Zakir Hussain informed the court that Varsha had concealed the perfume bottle in her bag and exited the store without making payment.
Security personnel, upon noticing the missing item, alerted store employees. CCTV footage confirmed the theft, after which the store supervisor notified the Airport Police Division. Varsha departed for Thailand with her family at approximately 9:10 a.m. on the same day.
She was detained on March 31, 2025, upon re-entering Singapore. During investigations, Varsha admitted to the theft and stated that she had given the stolen item to her mother as a gift.
In court, Varsha, who did not have legal representation, expressed remorse and apologized for her actions. She told District Judge A. Sangeetha that she accepted full responsibility and had no prior legal infractions. Full restitution for the stolen item has since been made to the store.
Under Singapore law, theft is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years, a fine, or both.
