Young women, depression, heart disease

PHILADELPHIA -- We know depression can make many medical problems worse.

But when it comes to heart disease, the number one killer of women, a new study shows for young and middle-aged women, this is a risk that needs to be addressed.

Heart doctors at Emery studied more than 3,000 people with heart disease.

They found women 55 and younger with depression were twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or die from heart disease compared to their healthy peers.

The same association was not found in men or in older women.

Depression can also lead to poor diet, lack of exercise and sleep, which can also raise your risk for heart disease.

But doctors say it's also associated with inflammation. Young women should be screened and treated for depression.