ALMOST half of Scots who have suffered a heart attack suffer depression afterwards, a study has shown.

New research by the British Heart Foundation has show the toll that the nation's biggest killer takes on patients and their families.

Around a third of Scots (32%) whose relative has suffered a heart live in constant fear of a repeat attack.

One in seven has had to give up their job or reduce their working hours to care for a loved one who has suffered a heart attack.

The latest figures from the charity show that more than 270,000 people in Scotland are suffering from coronary heart disease.

It is estimated that around 100,000 survive but they are often left with debilitating heart conditions including heart failure and angina.

Almost half (44%) of survivors say they have felt low or depressed after their heart attack, even many years after the event.

Around a quarter of families say they feel trapped by the after-effects of the heart attack and 37% don't think people understand how serious a heart attack is.

There are around 22,000 heart attack episodes in Scotland each year, meaning someone goes to hospital due to a heart attack every 24 minutes.

The charity is urging the public to wear red in support of its Wear It. Beat It campaign on February 6, part of BHF Scotland's Heart Month.

BHF Scotland says more research is needed to prevent people suffering heart attacks and to improve the treatments for resulting conditions

Pamela Spence, from Neilston, was only 32 years old when she had a heart attack in February 2014.

She said: "Although I had no sign of heart problems before my heart attack, there is a history in my family - my dad died of a heart attack at the age of 54 and my uncle also had a heart attack when he was fairly young.

"The whole experience was very stressful for everyone, but I've been lucky to have such a supportive family. People can't believe I had a heart attack at such a young age."

Professor Peter Weissberg, Medical Director at the BHF, said: "Largely because of the BHF's investment in world leading research over the last 50 years, most people now survive a heart attack. But this doesn't mean the battle is won.

"There is currently no way to reverse the damage caused by a heart attack meaning hundreds of thousands of people are living with the devastating and often deadly effects of heart failure.

"On 6 February, we're urging everyone to get behind Wear it. Beat it. by wearing red and organising their own fundraising event. By doing this, you'll be helping us make the research breakthroughs that could save many more lives."