Which came first...the heart attack or the depression?

According to a Gallup Poll, “US adults who have had a heart attack are twice as likely as those who have not had a heart attack to report being diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives, 30.1% vs. 15.0%”.  On the other side of the coin, depression is a strong risk factor for developing heart disease, as strong as diabetes and smoking.  Both suffering a heart attack and suffering from depression cause people to be down and have difficulty making healthy lifestyle choices. 

Conversely, researchers are finding that people who feel happy and loved can more easily make healthy decisions. This research points out the importance of strong social ties which add much to our quality of life.  This research can be found at http://www.gallup.com/poll/180470/heart-attacks-depression-closely-linked.aspx

The American Heart Association suggests these three steps to manage stress/anxiety/depression.

1.     Recognize what is causing the stress and deal with it.  Get help if you need help.  Depression which continues for weeks should be cared for.
2.     Decide which healthy habit you want to work on.  Start gradually and build healthy behaviors until they become habits.  When stress or depression causes you to revert to old habits, start over again. 
3.     One step at a time when trying to break bad habits, especially smoking. 
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/StressManagement/Stress-Management_UCM_001082_SubHomePage.jsp