Childhood Depression May Cause Heart Diseases As Early As In Teens: Study

A recent study reveals that depression during childhood triggers chances of obesity, smoking and signs of cardiovascular disease in the teens.

A recent study by researchers at the University of South Florida states that children suffering from depression in their early years are at risk of developing heart diseases in their teens.

Childhood abuse, relationship with siblings, and parental addictions are the most common factors that lead to stress and depression in children.

The researchers followed more than 545 Hungarian children, mostly at the threshold of adolescence, who were part of a genetics of depression study in 2004. The adolescents were divided into three groups and were judged on the risk factors associated with heart disease like smoking, obesity, physical activity and parental history. The first group comprised of more than 200 children who had clinical depression, the other group comprised of 200 of their healthy siblings. The last group had more than 150 unrelated children with no past history of clinical depression.

The parental histories of the children who suffered from depression at an early age, also reported higher rates of heart disease at a young age.

"Given that the parents in this sample were relatively young, we were quite surprised to find that the parents of the affected adolescents were reporting a history of heart attacks and other serious events," said Jonathan Rottenberg, who led the study, in a press release.

According to the researchers, prevention of childhood depression can considerably reduce chances of heart attacks in teens. However, the study is not clear on how early this association starts and can be detected.

Rottenberg states further interventions are necessary before the findings are put into practice.

One in every 10 people in the U.S. suffers from depression, reports Foxnews. According to the health experts, light therapy, counseling and inspiring messages can help these people to a large extent to overcome depression.