Middle-aged men who have symptoms of psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, are more than three times as likely to have a fatal stroke than middle-aged men who are not depressed, according to research reported in the January issue of Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

According to Robert M. Carney, Ph.D., professor of medical psychology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis more study is needed to understand the relationship between mood and cardiovascular health. "Depressed people often don't take medicines as prescribed so some of the men may not be taking medicines for high blood pressure, thereby increasing their risk for stroke," he says.

Carney says the report is a wakeup call for physicians and patients. Physicians who fail to ask about psychological health and patients who are reluctant to discuss depression often downplay depression and anxiety. "These findings suggest that ignoring depression and anxiety is probably not good medical practice," he says.

Carney adds that psychological health should "be evaluated the same way we evaluate any medical risk factor - such as high blood pressure or smoking."

Remember this the next time you see your doctor, don't be afraid to discuss symptoms of depression or anxiety you may be having, and don't let your doctor downplay them. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health and plays a very important part in your overall state of health.