Know How Depression can be Harmful to your Mind and Body?

Depression is a serious mental and physical health issue, and if left untreated, has long-term repercussions on just the individual who is depressed but also their friends and family. Depression can also hamper an individual’s daily activities and affect their moods and interpersonal relationships on both personal and professional levels.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 264 million people from across the globe and from all age groups suffer from depression.

 

Apart from the impact on a person’s mental health, depression can also make an impact on a person’s physical wellbeing. This is where the importance of medical insurance comes in.

 

What are the Effects of Depression on the Body and Brain?

Wondering how does depression affect your brain? While impacting a person’s mood and wreaking havoc on one’s emotions, science shows that depression makes a physical impact on the brain. Studies show that depression can erode grey matter volume in some areas of the brain. The areas in the brain that are likely to experience a shrinkage of grey volume and size include:

 

Hippocampus:

The hippocampus is the part of the brain that plays a vital role in memory and learning. It also links to parts of the brain that play a role in controlling emotions. The hippocampus also responds to stress-related hormones. Depression can impact this area of the brain and affect your memory, learning and emotions, apart from creating stress.

 

Amygdala:

The amygdala is linked to emotions like pleasure, fear, anger and gets activated when a person is emotional or is in a situation of fear. Amygdala activity increases when a person is depressed or sad.

 

Thalamus

The thalamus receives information related to the senses and conveys to the cerebral cortex and therefore is linked to speech, learning, thinking and reactions. Any signs of depression can impact this part of the brain.

 

Prefrontal Cortex:

This area has a role to play in planning and thinking. Depression may impact the size of this area.

 

Anxiety and Depression Effects on Body Include:

 

• Trouble remembering things, people or events
• Trouble thinking coherently
• A sense of hopelessness
• Lack of motivation
• Appetite issues
• Sleep deprivation or sleep deficit
• Anxiety and a sense of sadness

 

Physical Effects of Depression on the Body

 

Now that you know how depression affects the brain, it’s time to turn our attention to the physical impact of depression on the body.

 

• Sleep deprivation caused by depression can lead to serious problems like heart conditions, diabetes or stroke and sleep apnea, which are all interlinked. Oversleeping because of depression can lead to sluggishness and a sedentary lifestyle.
• Depression and reduced oxygen supply to the brain are linked, as studies have shown. Although it is still not clear which comes first, the two are linked, and cause inflammation, injury or death of brain cells.
• Several serious health conditions can exist alongside depression or as a result of untreated chronic depression. These include cardiac problems such as hypertension, coronary artery disease and heart attacks, autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis and lupus. The risk of suffering from conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, kidney diseases or arthritis can also increase because of depression.
• Depression is also linked to obesity. People with depression may experience weight gain because of lifestyle choices that result in a lack of exercise and a proper diet.
• On the other hand, depression can also lead to eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia where a person doesn’t get adequate food and nourishment.
• Chronic conditions such as asthma or certain pains may also be one of the depression effects on body.
• Depression is known to cause digestion issues like diarrhoea, constipation, nausea or vomiting. It can also lead to conditions like irritable bowel syndrome.

 

How to Handle Depression?

Depression can be harmful to the mind and body and lead to many health problems. Some steps you can take to beat depression include:

 

Yoga/Meditatio:

Meditation, yoga or any mindfulness practices help you focus on the breath and boost your mental health. It helps you stay anchored as you go about your routine.

 

Exercise:

A daily exercise regimen that includes a 20-minute brisk walking/running, swimming or pilates/Zumba can help you reduce stress.

 

Eating Right Food:

Eating balanced and healthy, nutritious meals also help you beat depression to a certain extent. With a proper diet, you can also reduce hypertension.

 

Staying Hydrated:

It is very important that you drink at least eight glasses of water and stay hydrated.

 

Get Professional Help

Practices like these help beat depression to an extent but it is also important to seek therapy and counselling at the right time if you need help. Clinical depression needs a balance of counselling and medication to help you overcome it.

 

Because depression is linked to a range of other health conditions, it is important that you get health insurance. The benefits of health insurance include coverage of hospitalization costs, daycare costs and access to a network of good hospitals. Make sure to choose right health insurance on the basis of your age, the number of family members and your medical history. If you have a family history of depression, it is important that you are covered by an appropriate health insurance plan. You can choose between individual health insurance plans or family ones that cover your spouse and dependents.

 

Still asking is health insurance necessary? The answer is an emphatic yes. If you are buying health insurance plan or mediclaim policy, make sure to buy early on so that your health insurance premium is low and the claims are settled seamlessly and in quick time.

 

Conclusion

Depression can affect people from all age groups and sections of society. It not only impacts your mental health but also physical health. Depression affects your mood, wreaks havoc on your emotions, leaves you vulnerable and impacts your interpersonal skills. Apart from the mental health impact, depression can also lead to a range of physical conditions and illnesses such as heart issues, chronic ailments, kidney diseases, diabetes and stroke. If you have a family history of depression, it is apt that you get health insurance and get yourself adequate cover so you can protect your and your loved ones’ well-being.