People with mental health disorders are more likely to have heart disease or stroke, according to a recent study.

Canadian researchers found that people facing mental health challenges are twice as likely to have heart disease or stroke.

"This population is at high risk, and it's even greater for people with multiple mental health issues," Katie Goldie, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, said in a statement.

For the study, researchers collected and analyzed data from the Canadian Community Health Survey to explore the associations between cardiovascular risk and disease, mental health disorders and the use of psychiatric medication.

The study included people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, major depressive and anxiety disorders. Among the psychiatric drugs examined were antipsychotic, antidepressant, benzodiazepine and mood-stabilizing medications.

They found that people who have had a mental health disorder at any point in their life were twice as likely to have had heart disease or have experienced a stroke. Those who haven't developed heart disease or had a stroke are more likely to be at a high long-term risk of developing cardiovascular disease, when compared to the general population. They also found that people who used psychiatric medications were twice as likely to have heart disease and three times as likely to have had a stroke compared to those not taking these medications.

According to Goldie, a few factors account for the elevated risk.

First, people with mental health disorders often exhibit behavioral risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol use, poor diet and physical inactivity. For instance, she says 40 to 90 percent of people with mental illness use tobacco, compared to 20 percent of the general Canadian population.

Psychiatric medication can induce weight gain and impair the breakdown of fats and sugars by the body. This can lead to obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes. A third issue is access to health care. Patients with mental health disorders may have difficulty communicating their health needs.

"Or they may not even seek care because of the symptoms of their disorder," Goldie said. "A separation between primary and mental health services can also challenge these patients' care. We need improved integration and collaboration."

There is still stigma associated with mental illness that can even affect the care health professionals provide. Goldie said that people with mental health disorders are less likely to receive risk-reducing drug therapies or undergo coronary procedures such as bypass surgery.

The findings were presented at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress.