Stroke is a medical condition wherein the normal blood flow is interrupted. Some of its causative factors include a blood clot or a ruptured artery on a portion of the brain. If this happens, a reduction of oxygen and glucose supply will occur and this could lead to the death of brain cells, and worse, result to severe brain damage.

There are a lot of factors that can trigger stroke such as, having a family history of stroke, smoking, eating foods high in cholesterol, and drinking too much alcohol. But, aside from these factors, researchers discovered a new reason that can trigger stroke, and that is, depression.

According to an article published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), studies were conducted involving 317,540 patients and they found out that depression has something to do with the possibility of developing and dying from a stroke.

The studies we're conducted by An Pan, Ph.D from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston together with her colleagues. The main goal of the study is to have a review regarding the correlation of depression and risk of acquiring stroke.

The researchers gathered the data and thoroughly analyzed the results. The evidence points towards depression being associated with a 45 percent possibility of acquiring total stroke, a 25 percent possibility of acquiring an ischemic stroke and 55 percent of acquiring a fatal stroke. However, there are no signs or evidence that proves that depression is associated with hemorrhagic stroke.

Depression can lead to stroke when one is already suffering from conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. These are the leading causes of the heightened risk of stroke. Taking antidepressants may also be one of the reasons that can lead to a stroke.

"Given the high prevalence and incidence of depression and stroke in the general population, the observed association between depression and stroke has clinical and public health importance. More studies are needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and elucidate the causal pathways that link depression and stroke," according to JAMA.