The full-body impact of depression: Chronic disease

Depression is one of those conditions that, as soon as you mention feeling down to your doctor, he’s reaching for his prescription pad. That’s why one in 10 adults in the U.S. currently take antidepressants.

Funny thing is, if you come to them with physical complaints, especially anything pain-related, they’ll often file that under the label of depression, too, and pull out that prescription form.

But they’ve been missing out on the actual physical toll of depression that research pioneer Dr. Philip Gold recently laid out in a landmark paper published in Brain Medicine’s Seymour Reichlin Centenary Festschrift collection.

Depression doesn’t just sometimes hurt. It contributes to the most common chronic diseases, cutting our lives short…

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Far beyond mood changes: Disease and shorter lifespan

“Depression’s toll reaches beyond mood and thought, extending into physical health risks like coronary artery disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and stroke,” explains Dr. Gold.

In fact, considering that these conditions collectively reduce life expectancy by approximately 7 to 10 years in people suffering from them, depression clearly has an adverse effect on longevity itself.

To determine just how depression leads to these life-threatening diseases, Dr. Gold looked at the brain, discovering that people who are depressed experience striking changes in brain structure.

These changes include a 40% reduction in subgenual prefrontal cortex volume—a region that plays a critical role in regulating the stress response.

If that weren’t enough, these structural changes occur in conjunction with disruptions in multiple hormone systems, particularly involving corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and norepinephrine.

“The combined effects of CRH, norepinephrine, cortisol, and inflammatory pathways help explain why depression often leads to early onset of various illnesses and a shortened lifespan for those affected,” notes Dr. Gold, emphasizing the interconnected nature of these systems.

Clearly, the proof is in the pudding. And no matter what your doctor might say, depression is not only in your head.

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Don’t let depression rain on your good health

This isn’t the first we’ve heard about the impact of mental health on physical health…

In fact, scientists at Ohio State revealed a powerful connection between mental health and heart disease.  

“Heart disease and anxiety/depression interact such that each promotes the other,” said lead study author Philip Binkley, MD. “There appear to be mental processes that link heart disease with anxiety and depression that are currently under investigation. Both heart disease and anxiety/depression are associated with the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. This is part of the so-called involuntary nervous system that increases heart rate, blood pressure and can also contribute to anxiety and depression.”

The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for the “fight or flight” response during any potential danger. On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system inhibits the body from overworking and restores the body to a calm and composed state.

So, if you’ve been living with depression, be sure you are heard when talking to a doctor about it. And when you see your primary physician, be sure he’s aware that you are dealing with depression so he can pay closer attention to what’s going on in your body.

In addition, these practices could help you mentally and physically:

• Boost your dopamine levels – This happiness hormone is linked to the nervous system and low levels can result in depression.
• Conscious movement – Yoga is a great way to reduce both depression and anxiety. Here are three of the most effective poses anyone can do.
• Foods – Researchers have found that certain foods can help DASH symptoms of depression. So be sure to put the right diet to work for you. Foods that contain the prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (like legumes and nuts) are especially helpful at reducing anxiety levels.
• Supplements – If you’re deficient in certain amino acids or minerals, it can amp up your depression. Two of the most important are arginine and magnesium. Research has shown that people with depression also suffered low arginine levels which can lower the amount of nitric oxide in the body. Low levels of nitric oxide are necessary for healthy blood flow and facilitate heart health.

Sources:

Depression research pioneer Dr. Philip Gold maps disease’s full-body impact — EurekAlert!

The link between depression chronic illness and a shorter life — Easy Health Options

The amino acid deficiency that leads to depression — Easy Health Options