Individuals with major depression are more likely to have asthma, arthritis, and diabetes than the rest of the population. Depression is just as important a risk factor for heart disease as smoking and high blood pressure. When individuals suffering from heart failure have a depressed episode, it increases their likelihood of dying by 15 percent. In contrast, studies show that after their depression is treated with antidepressants, survivors of heart attacks are less likely to have another heart attack.
If you have several episodes of depression, you are more likely to develop dementia. Studies have shown that depression frequently precedes Alzheimer’s disease. Fortunately, depressed people are much less likely to have health problems if they get appropriate treatment like antidepressants and psychotherapy. When your depression has been effectively treated with antidepressant medications and psychotherapy, you will look, act, and feel just like anyone else, if not better. And treatment is successful in the vast majority of cases.
- What can I do about my depression?
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- Are thyroid deficiency and depression related?
- Could my sleep apnea be causing my depressed symptoms?
- Could a medication I’m taking make me feel depressed?
- What is the most common medical cause of depressive symptoms?
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- What is borderline personality disorder?
- What is dysthymia?
- Does depression cause physical problems?
- What’s the difference between major depression and bipolar disorder?
- Are there other conditions that can get confused with unipolar major depression?
- Is there a biological reason for depression?
- How do these negative thoughts affect me?
- It seems like my depression is caused by my negative thoughts is that normal?
- Why do I get depressed without anything stressful happening to me?
- Is unipolar major depression just another term for life stress?
- Does early childhood abuse cause major depression?
- What’s the relationship between brain chemicals and depression?
