How does depression impact our physical health?
Depression is a serious medical condition that may limit our ability to function in day to day life. While we often think of depression in terms of symptoms that impact us in the here and now, research shows that depression may also have long-term health consequences. Dr. Holly Betterly MD, Board-Certified Psychiatrist in Weston, FL, provides insight into how depression can affect our physical health.
This post is provided for educational purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have questions, always reach out to your doctor for more information.
Struggling with your mental health? Reach out for professional support. Dr. Betterly is a board-certified psychiatrist in Weston, FL dedicated to helping you overcome depression, anxiety, and OCD. She offers appointments at her office in Weston, FL, conveniently located in Weston Town Center, as well as via telehealth for patients across Florida. Request an appointment today to start your journey to better mental health.
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What is depression?
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions worldwide. An estimated seventeen percent of Americans are impacted by depression during their lifetime, with eight percent of US adults impacted each year. Anyone can experience depression, regardless of age, gender, ethnic background, or socioeconomic status. Certain risk factors, such as female gender, may increase your risk for developing depression.
Depression involves more than just feeling sad every now and then. Depression is a serious mental health condition that causes significant distress and interferes with your ability to function in day to day life. People who are experiencing depression may notice a prolonged, persistent depressed mood. They may describe feeling sad, hopeless, or empty for weeks at a time. Symptoms of depression can impact various aspects of your life, including the way that you feel, think, sleep, or eat.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the diagnostic criteria for depressive disorders, including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Dysthymia, and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. Mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists and psychologists, apply these diagnostic criteria to help them to determine the cause of their patient’s mental health symptoms. You can think of the diagnostic criteria as a list of symptoms that are commonly seen in patients who are experiencing a specific psychiatric disorder. Each depressive disorder presents with a unique set of symptoms.
Some common symptoms of depression may include:
Feelings of sadness, emptiness, worthlessness, or hopelessness
Loss of interest in activities
Changes in appetite and weight
Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
Fatigue and low energy
Difficulty concentrating or thinking
Irritability or restlessness
Physical symptoms, such as headaches or digestive problems
Thoughts of death or suicide
If the symptoms of depression sound all too familiar, you should know that effective, evidence-based treatments for depression are available. These treatments may include talk therapy and prescription medications, such as antidepressants. If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression, reach out to a psychiatrist near you for further evaluation.
How does depression impact our physical health?
When we think about depression’s impact on our lives, we often think about the ways in which depressive symptoms affect our daily functioning. Some common examples:
Low energy and fatigue may interfere with our ability to get out of bed in the morning.
Decreased motivation may make it challenging to stay on top of household chores and personal hygiene tasks.
A tendency to withdraw or isolate may interfere with our social relationships.
While some consequences of depression are apparent in the here and now, others may be less noticeable right away, particularly when it comes to the long-term impacts of depression on physical health.
Higher risk for developing chronic medical conditions
A recent study published in PLOS Medicine explored the relationship between depression and long-term physical health conditions. This study included data from over 170,000 UK adults between the ages of 40 and 71. They found that compared to participants without an existing diagnosis of depression, participants with depression started out with more medical conditions at baseline (in other words, before the study period began). The participants with depression also developed new medical conditions at a 30% faster rate than those without depression.
The authors of the study point out that those with depression may be more likely to develop medical conditions in part due to risk factors such as smoking, higher BMI, and lower physical activity levels.
Why might these risk factors be associated with depression?
People experiencing depression may be more likely to turn to substance use as a coping mechanism, attempting to “self medicate”.
They may experience weight gain, relying on junk food for convenience when cooking a healthier option feels overwhelming. They may also turn to food for comfort, eating more than they typically would.
They may be struggling with fatigue, low energy, and decreased motivation, all of which may limit their ability to engage in physical activity.
A 2023 article from JAMA Psychiatry examined the relationship between depression and medical conditions requiring hospitalization. The study found that among people with depression, the most common medical conditions resulting in hospitalization were endocrine, vascular, and musculoskeletal. Compared to those without depression, participants who reported severe or moderately-severe depression had a 1.5 times greater risk for 29 different medical conditions. The authors also found that depression was associated with disease progression for diabetes and heart disease.
In considering why those with depression may be at a greater risk for developing medical conditions than those without depression, the authors of this study identified some of the same risk factors as those in the first study, as well as the possibility of a shared genetic link or a higher level of systemic inflammation.
Bottom Line: People who experience depression may have a greater risk for developing chronic medical conditions.
If you have depression, establishing a relationship with a primary care physician (PCP) can be a great way to stay on top of your physical health. PCPs provide routine health maintenance and preventive care, including screenings for conditions that you may be at risk for developing. They also provide education about healthy lifestyle choices which can help you to improve your overall health and wellbeing. To find a board-certified family medicine doctor near you, check out the American Board of Family Medicine’s free online physician directory.
Difficulty with managing chronic medical conditions
When struggling under the heavy weight of depression, staying on top of your health can feel like an insurmountable task.
The thought of getting showered and dressed to drive into your doctor’s office for an appointment, or to the pharmacy to pick up your medications, may feel overwhelming.
You may not feel up social interaction, putting off calling the office to schedule a visit.
Concentration difficulties can easily lead to forgotten appointments and missed doses of medications.
Perhaps you are feeling hopelessness or discouraged about your health, with depression trying to trick you into believing that a visit to the doctor would be futile.
An article from Archives of Internal Medicine found that patients with depression had three times greater odds of being non-adherent with medical treatment than patients without depression. When patients are non-adherent with medical treatment (i.e., skipping doses of medications, forgetting to get lab tests or imaging studies, or missing doctor’s appointments), they may unfortunately experience worse health outcomes.
Bottom line: Depression can be a significant barrier to accessing health care services, leading to poor health outcomes.
If your depression is limiting your ability to stay on top of your health and medical conditions, reach out to a board-certified psychiatrist to discuss treatment options. Getting your depression under control can help you find a path to better physical and mental health.
