Depression is a common mental health disorder that can affect your physical health. If it is left untreated, it has an effect on your entire body. It can increase your pain sensitivity, lead to overeating or appetite loss, and keep you awake at night. It can disrupt your everyday life as it often causes trouble with your memory and decision-making.
It also weakens your immune system, which affects your ability to fight off disease. At its worst, you may even contemplate suicide. The connection between depression and physical health is undeniable.
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Some Physical Symptoms of Depression
Feeling sad or anxious is a normal part of life, but when these feelings do not go away, you may be suffering from depression. Depression affects your central nervous system, and when you’re depressed, you often experience physical symptoms.
Some of these symptoms include fatigue, headaches, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and digestive problems. When your neurotransmitters like serotonin are not functioning normally, it can alter your pain threshold, so you can become more sensitive to pain.
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Increased Risk of Certain Physical Illnesses and Conditions
When people are depressed, they are more likely to suffer from preventable physical conditions. This could be for many reasons. The genes that make you susceptible to depression may also play a part in the development of certain physical health problems.
Your motivation to take care of yourself decreases when you feel depressed. You may find it more difficult to change certain behavior patterns, like overeating or smoking. You may not go for routine physical health checks, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, or sugar checks, because it just takes too much effort.
You could have difficulty even maintaining your normal work schedule or fulfilling your social obligations, so looking after your physical health is difficult.
Depression and Physical Illness: A Tough Cycle to Break
There is a vicious cycle between depression and physical illness, which can be hard to break. Many of the physical changes caused by depression, such as insomnia and changes in diet, can weaken the immune system. A weak immune system makes you more susceptible to infection and diseases.
In turn, the physical changes caused by the chronic disease can worsen or even trigger depression. If you’re depressed, you are more likely to suffer from inflammatory conditions and autoimmune disorders.
Depression and the Digestive System
Depression plays a role in appetite and nutrition. Some people cope with depression by overeating, while others may lose their appetite and eat too little. Overeating can lead to weight gain and more risk of developing obesity-related conditions like type 2 diabetes.
Foods high in sugar and carbohydrates may provide some temporary relief, but they are counterproductive over the long term. Being underweight can affect fertility, cause fatigue and harm the heart. Eating a balanced diet will help you to manage your depression. A healthy diet includes complex carbohydrates, protein, essential fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Depression and the Cardiovascular System
There’s a close relationship between depression and stress. Stress hormones speed up your heart rate, and this puts pressure on your heart which can lead to heart disease over time. If depression is untreated, it increases your risk of suffering from heart disease.
Many people suffering from heart disease also suffer from depression. Research shows that recurring heart problems are more linked to depression than other conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or high blood cholesterol. Depression can reduce your motivation to make healthy lifestyle choices. Eating a poor diet and not getting exercise increases your risk of heart disease.
Depression Responds Well to Treatment
The effects of depression extend beyond emotions and mental health. Recognizing that depression can cause physical health problems is helpful. Some people don’t make the connection and try to ignore the symptoms or attribute them to aging or other factors. Realizing the connection may encourage you to seek anxiety treatment and make changes to manage the symptoms.
By treating your depression, you can improve your overall health. A combined approach of medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes can help you to manage the mental and physical symptoms of depression.
