Depression is characterized by feelings of persistent sadness, pessimism, hopelessness, fatigue, loss of interest in activities that were formerly enjoyed, insomnia and other symptoms. Though depression is experienced through the emotions, it likely is caused by an interplay of biochemical, environmental, hereditary and psychological factors. Potentially devastating on its own, depression may also lead to other diseases and heath conditions. However, depression usually responds well to treatment. If you are experiencing depression, consult a qualified health-care provider.
Coronary Heart Disease
Depression is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, according to a 2003 article in the "Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine." Coronary heart disease can cause heart attacks. Also known as coronary artery disease, coronary heart disease occurs when the small blood vessels that supply oxygen and blood to the heart muscle harden and narrow. The increased release of stress hormones that occurs with depression may account, in part, for the higher cardiovascular risks. The prognosis for coronary patients worsens with the severity of their depression.
Diabetes
A 2007 article in the the "Archives of Internal Medicine" presented an intriguing study that suggested that depression may lead to diabetes in older adults. In the study, researchers tracked 4,681 adults over the age of 65 for 10 years and found that those with depression were statistically more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, a serious chronic illness characterized by insulin resistance and the buildup of sugar in the blood.
Epilepsy
Columbia University researchers published a study in 2006 that posited a connection between depression and the development of epilepsy. The researchers found that people with depression were 1.7 times more likely to develop seizures. The connection between epilepsy and depression appears to be bidirectional. Half of all people with uncontrolled epilepsy also suffer from depressive symptoms. The abnormal secretion of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine may be factors in epilepsy and depression alike.
Osteoporosis
Women with major depressive disorder have a statistically greater likelihood of developing osteoporosis than healthy controls, according to research from Case Western Reserve University published in the "Archives of Internal Medicine" in 2007. Osteoporosis, a reduction in bone density that often occurs after menopause, elevates the risk for fractures. The study's authors theorized that depression may cause an immune or inflammatory imbalance, leading to a reduction in bone mass.
References
- "Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine"; Heart Disease and Depression: Don't Ignore the Relationship; September 2003
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Longitudinal Association Between Depressive Symptoms and Incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Older Adults; 2007
- "Annals of Neurology"; Depression and Suicide Attempt as Risk Factors for Incident Unprovoked Seizures; D.C. Hesdorffer et al.; January 2006
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Low Bone Mass in Premenopausal Women with Depression; F. Eskandari et al; Nov. 26, 2007
