Depression hangs heavy on the heart: Cardiology patients need monitoring, study shows.

Byline: John Fauber

Jan. 15--At age 30, Yvonne Herr went to the emergency room thinking she was suffering from a bad bout of bronchitis.

She was stunned to learn she was having a heart attack and jolted again when she found that she would have to undergo quintuple bypass surgery.

The unpleasant surprises continued in the weeks after the surgery when a dark, ever-present mood set in.

"I got very depressed," said Herr, now 39. "It was like, 'Wow, why is this happening to me?' I knew I needed help."

Fortunately, she got treatment for the depression.

Her family doctor put her on an anti-depressant. She began seeing psychologist at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center.

Through medication and regular visits with a psychologist, her depression has been under control, she said.

A new study suggests that treating depression …