Saturday, October 2, 2010

The CDC says nearly 1 in 10 US adults depressed

This seems to me like it is practically an epidemic. I found this article so interesting:




http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/01/cdc-nearly-1-in-10-u-s-adults-depressed/



The psychologist in the article noted that depression can cause and exacerbate chronic health conditions such as diabetes, and heart disease. I would add chronic pain and autoimmune disorders to this list. Also work, family, and relationships tend to suffer when somebody is depressed.



The good news? Depression is very treatable. There are many simple self-help lifestyle changes that can cause major improvements in mood. For example studies have shown 30 minutes of exercise 3-4 times per week can reduce symptoms of depression. Omega-3 fatty acids have a similar effect. And of course, counseling has been shown to help depression.



So don't suffer. The consequences of not treating depression are significant. Treatment is available even if you start out with exercise and nutritional remedies before moving towards counseling or medication. Get help and get out to enjoy your life.

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