Depression and Blood Health: Understanding the Connection

Introduction:

Depression does not always occur alone; this is usually associated with various other health conditions. This can make a person non-responsive to taking care of himself and taking steps to prevent the illnesses such as high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, or other heart-related conditions. This can lead to physical changes in the body that may further disrupt normal functioning and may cause changes in heart rate, blood circulation, and metabolism. Therefore these changes in the body can lead to other conditions.

What Is Depression?

Depression is a mental or mood disorder causing the feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It is also called a depressive disorder or clinical depression. This can cause symptoms related to behavioral changes and various emotional and physical problems. The person may experience problems in doing daily activities and may feel worthless, as if life is not worth living.

Depression is a serious condition, and one does not get treated for this by taking a few medicines; it requires long-term treatment and may include medication, counseling, or physiotherapy.

Depression can affect people of any age and may occur at any time in life. However, it is most commonly seen in teens and people the age of 20s. It is most commonly seen in women than men. Globally there are around 300 million people found to be affected by depression, which means four percent of the world's population.

What Are the Symptoms of Depression?

People may have multiple episodes of depression, and the symptoms may occur at any time of the day and may include -

• Feeling sad or hopeless.

• Angry outbursts, irritability, or frustration.

• Sleep disturbances cause insomnia or too much sleep.

• Loss of interest in various daily activities.

• Reduced appetite or weight loss.

• Tiredness or lack of energy.

• Slowed thinking or trouble concentrating.

• Having frequent suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts.

• Anxiety.

• Restlessness.

• Unexplained problems like headache or back pains.

What Are the Blood-Related Conditions Associated With Depression?

Depression may be linked with various conditions affecting various organs of the body, such as the brain and heart, or affecting the metabolism of the body. Various conditions like hypertension, anemia, stroke, or heart conditions can be related to depression.

1. Depression and High Blood Pressure -

High blood pressure is commonly seen in people affected with depression. In around 20 to 30 percent of people with high blood pressure, depression is one of the common factors. Having high blood pressure is a serious condition and may also lead to stroke or heart disease. This can affect the quality of life of a patient or may also increase the risk of death.

However, according to various studies, it has been found that high blood pressure medicines may also help in reducing the risk of depression, which may include -

• Angiotensin agents such as Enalapril and Ramipril.

• Calcium antagonists such as Amlodipine and Verapamil.

• Beta-blockers such as Atenolol, Bisoprolol, or Propranolol.

According to some studies, high blood pressure and depression may affect mental health in the following ways -

• Noncompliance: Depression can make the person avoid the treatment by not taking the medication and following the treatment plan as directed. This can lead to blood pressure being uncontrolled or poorly controlled.

• Inflammation: High blood pressure can lead to low-grade inflammation, and the chemicals involved in this chronic inflammatory response can affect mental health.

• Stress: Hypertension leads to the production of high levels of stress-related chemicals circulating in the blood. This can worsen the condition as it leads to an increase in blood pressure. Treating hypertension can help to lower stress levels, and this can lower the chances of having anxiety or depression.

2. Depression and Heart Disease -

Depression and heart conditions have a strong link, especially in cases where depression occurs early in life. Depression can be a serious risk factor in patients with high blood cholesterol and hypertension. Moreover, it can also affect heart health by increasing the risk of obesity and diabetes.

Obesity can be linked with certain anti-depressants medicines, such as antipsychotics, that can cause weight gain and increase body fat which is harmful to heart health.

Other antidepressants, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as Paroxetine, can affect the cells present on the walls of arteries and can affect heart function. Tricyclic antidepressants can also affect the heart rhythm, thus increasing the risk of heart disease.

3. Depression and Stroke -

A stroke is a disorder that happens when the blood flowing to the brain is cut off. The relationship between depression and stroke is complex. Depression causes the risk of getting a stroke by 35 percent without having another contributory factor like high blood pressure. In some cases, a person may get affected by depression after getting a stroke, as the stroke can cause brain damage.

4. Depression and Anemia -

Anemia is a type of blood condition in which the ability of the blood cells diminishes to transport oxygen. Therefore the lack of oxygen to the brain may cause certain symptoms such as -

• Persistent sadness.

• Sleep problems.

• Change in appetite or weight.

• Sleep disturbances.

• Restlessness.

According to some recent studies, it has been found that depression and anemia might have a connection, most commonly with iron deficiency anemia. According to the study, it has been found that low iron in the body may lead to depression. The part of the brain called basal ganglia contains a high amount of iron and is also responsible for processing emotional stimuli. Therefore, with low iron, it may not be able to process the emotions properly and may lead to depression or anxiety. However, more research has to be done to confirm the link between depression and anemia.

What Steps Should Be Taken to Manage Depression?

The symptoms of depression may vary from person to person, and according to that treatment plan is formulated. However, a person can make some changes in their daily life to help cope with this condition which may include -

• Eating healthy food such as healthy fats such as nuts, eggs, avocados, olive oil, cheese, whole grains, and fish are essential for brain health and may help in managing depression.

• Eating leafy vegetables rich in folate and water-soluble B vitamin should be included in the diet, such as spinach, mustard greens, lettuce, broccoli, and kale.

• Including protein-rich foods in the diet can help boost the mood as it consists of an amino acid called tryptophan. This amino acid helps in the production of a mood-boosting chemical called serotonin.

• Sleeping well and having a good quality sleep may also help in the treatment of depression.

• Doing regular exercise may improve mental health as well as mood. It helps in creating a positive feeling which helps the individual to be active physically as well as mentally.

• Avoiding alcohol or other harmful habits.

Conclusion:

Depression is a serious mental health condition that may affect the physical and mental health of the patient. This can lead to conditions related to the cardiovascular system, digestive system, nervous system, or even the immune system. Therefore a person should keep a check on the symptoms and should try to reach toa medical professional in case any symptom is noticed. Depression can seriously impact the quality of life. Therefore, any signs or symptoms should not be ignored, and they should immediately contact a professional.