5 Threats To Mental Health Posed By Depression

 

Almost 15-20% of the population is gravely affected and hit by the mental ailment ‘Depression’. Although depression is a distorted mental condition, it inflicts adverse impacts on the physical health and well-being of an individual too.

Depression is closely linked to stress and upends the way our brain functions, thereby increasing the risk of developing numerous physical health issues. During depression, there is a proliferation of stress hormones in the body like Cortisol and Adrenaline, which makes the body more vulnerable to diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart problems, stroke, kidney disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

Stress, if untreated and not paid heed to, may culminate in numerous physical and mental health problems, of which, depression, hypertension, and diabetes are the most common. Depression often exacerbates physical health problems. Hence, early diagnosis and treatment are vital steps to avert such conditions.

 

Experts shed light on various diseases that depression may give rise to:

 

1. Heart diseases:

When Adrenaline, the stress hormone is released in excess, it ramps up the heart pulse rate and results in the tightening of the blood vessels, landing the body in a state of emergency. If this happens frequently, the person is highly vulnerable to contracting heart disease anytime soon. Statistics reveal that almost 15% of people suffering from heart diseases have developed depression.

2. Cancer:

Various types of cancer, particularly the ones related to the intestine are mostly found in people struggling with depression. Although the root cause of this is still not ascertained, it is somewhere related to the inflammatory pathway and toxins. If depressed people also consume alcohol or smoke too many cigarettes, it may also lead to ailments of the stomach, kidney, pancreas, and esophagus.