Sunday, May 18, 2008

Depression- Typical Causes

The questions related to depression are many. Some people wonder if depression is actually a disease. Technically, no it is not. But keep reading.

Although in depression there is evidence of an imbalance in the brain chemistry there is no proof that the imbalance in question causes the mood swings experienced by depressed individuals. For some of us stress results in depression. How does this happen....stress is known to suppress the immune system - that alone can affect the chemistry of the brain. This can lead to a disruption of the normal serotonin signaling and that disruption has been linked to depression.

Many drugs - recreational as well as prescription - can cause chemical imbalances that can lead to depression. Alcohol is a known brain depressant. Nicotine is a stimulant that can affect sleep. Many smokers snore which can result in waking throughout the night. That can lead to a lack of sleep which has been linked to depressed moods.

Caffeinated drinks, such as coffee and tea have been linked to anxiety, panic disorders, nervousness, heart palpitations, irritability, and recurrent headaches. I should mention that any of those can contribute to depression.

Exercise and good nutrition can help to combat or prevent depression. Lack of exercise triples the likelihood of depression. Good nutrition helps to ensure good physical health - including a healthy immune system.

Sleep is very important when discussing depression. The normal adult requires an average of 8 hours of sleep per night ( though this varies from one individual to the next). Disruptions to the normal sleep patterns can result in disruptions to the circadian rhythm which can result in depression.

For further information related to depression and other issues please click on any link in this blog or visit Fit Inside and Out.

Debbie C. Allen
www.FitInsidenOut.com
www.EatRightLOSEWEIGHTFeelGreat.com
www.InternetDivaDeb.com

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