What is Depression?

Depression is a serious condition that should not be taken lightly. Depression is an illness that can affect the body as well as your emotional state. It is not just feeling down or unhappiness when something does not go your way, but usually a more sever problem. Real depression takes over the mind and the body. Clinical Depression: Sever cases of Depression are referred to as clinical depression. It has an effect on your routine activities and the way feel physically the way you think and the way you behave. You may be unable to do everyday activities, and in sever cases you may have suicidal feelings. Depression is not just a mood you can “get over”. It is an illness that often requires medication and treatment. What are the Symptoms of Depression? Depression can occur in anyone and is not only rooted in genetic predisposition. There are many reasons why we get depressed. Sometimes its temporary, which would not be considered clinical depression which we are discussing here. But other times, in the cases of clinical depression, it can lest for years and sometimes a lifetime. It is important you realize the symptoms of depression so you can eventually treat it. Symptoms of Depression include:

• Feeling unhappy and sad most of the time
• Getting frustrated over small things
• Lack of desire for sexual intimacy
• Difficulty sleeping or too much sleep
• Difficulty eating or overeating
• Trouble keeping your thoughts clear
• Feeling like you are in slow motion
• Decreased concentration
• Self blame, feeling useless and worthless
• Memory failure
• Crying for no reason

What Causes Depression? Because depression is a real illness, it is just that you had a bad day. That may cause temporary feelings of sadness, but it takes more to cause true depression. Often times, people suffer from depression because of major life changing events, life the death of a loved one, a divorce, or bankruptcy. Some people have gone through traumatic life changing physical events. For example those who have been abused, raped or assaulted find that their life seems to be spinning out of control. Is Depression Hereditary? There have been many studies that show that people suffering from depression actually have different wave patterns in their brains. They also may have a hormone imbalance or chemical imbalance due to life changes, physical or medical problems. Sometimes depression can be genetic and passed onto other family members through someones genetic makeup. Scientists are still researching the connection between a persons genes and clinical depression. Prevention and Treatment: While we do not usually have the ability to prevent traumatic events from happening, but we can try to build up our support systems. Having people to turn to when life changing events happen can be the best medication. However, there are times when we need to seek professional help. Seeking Professional Help: Counseling can help prevent depression from getting worse and can also give you the support you need to get through the difficult times. And other times you may need the help of a prescription medication. It is important to see your doctor if you are feeling depressed. They can evaluate your symptoms and guide you to the best treatment.
Source: http://www.consumerhealthreview.org/brain-health/depression/

Depression linked to higher heart disease death risk in younger women

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Women 55 and younger are twice as likely to suffer a heart attack, die or require artery-opening procedures if they're moderately or severely depressed, according to new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

"Women in this age group are also more likely to have depression, so this may be one of the 'hidden' risk factors that can help explain why women die at a disproportionately higher rate than men after a heart attack," said Amit Shah, M.D., M.S.C.R., study author and assistant professor of Epidemiology at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.
Investigators assessed depression symptoms in 3,237 people with known or suspected heart disease (34 percent women, average age 62.5 years) scheduled for coronary angiography, an X-ray that diagnoses disease in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. After nearly three years of follow-up, researchers found:

• In women 55 and younger, after adjusting for other heart disease risk factors, each 1-point increase in symptoms of depression was associated with a 7 percent increase in the presence of heart disease.
• In men and older women, symptoms of depression didn't predict the presence of heart disease.
• Women 55 and younger were 2.17 times as likely to suffer a heart attack, die of heart disease or require an artery-opening procedure during the follow-up period if they had moderate or severe depression.
• Women 55 and younger were 2.45 times as likely to die from any cause during the follow-up period if they had moderate or severe depression.

"All people, and especially younger women, need to take depression very seriously," Shah said. "Depression itself is a reason to take action, but knowing that it is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and death should motivate people to seek help."
"Providers need to ask more questions. They need to be aware that young women are especially vulnerable to depression, and that depression may increase the risk to their heart," Shah said.

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"Although the risks and benefits of routine screening for depression are still unclear, our study suggests that young women may benefit for special consideration" remarked Viola Vaccarino, M.D., Ph.D., senior author of the study and Wilton Looney Chair of Epidemiology at Emory University. "Unfortunately, this group has largely been understudied before."
In 2008, the American Heart Association issued a scientific statement recommending that depression be formally considered as a risk factor, like diabetes or hypertension, for increased heart disease risk. "Our data are in accordance with this recommendation, but suggest that young/middle aged women may be especially vulnerable to depression as a risk factor," Vaccarino added."
The research group is examining whether women have more cardiovascular changes than men in response to a short-term mental stress, such as giving a public speech.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140618165107.htm