Facts About Depression At Midlife

When we age, we produce less of two important mood stabilizing hormones, serotonin and dopamine. So, depression is a risk factor for both men and women as we get older. Yet twice as many women compared to men suffer from depression, which leads some to believe there is a link between the female sex hormones and depression.

1. Memory loss at midlife may not be related to aging, but depression. Depression affects our ability to concentrate and remember things. Our mind instead is caught in a cycle of self blame, guilt, or hopelessness.

2. Of the studies that differentiate between major depression and minor depression, an increase in minor depression (i.e. non-clinical) is reported, rather than an increase in major depressive episodes.

3. Major depression is characterized by feeling sad or tearful all, or most of the time. Other symptoms include losing interest in regular activities and engaging in day to day life.

4. Those that seem to be at risk of suffering from major depression during menopause are those that have suffered major depression at some other time in their lives. This can include postnatal depression, severe depression associated with PMS, or any other type of clinical depression.

5. Some of the symptoms of perimenopause are also the symptoms of depression, so it's important to consider the whole picture. These common symptoms include tiredness, weight gain, insomnia, difficulties in concentration, memory loss, and a loss of interest in sex.

6. Depression is usually treated with psychological treatments and medication. The psychological treatments include cognitive behaviour therapy which looks at the negative ways we think; and Interpersonal therapy, to improve relationships.

7. Antidepressant medication covers a range including SSRI's, SNRI's, MAOI's, and others. Each class has a lot of individual medications within it, and people may tolerate one well, but have side effects on others. Finding an antidepressant medication appropriate to the individual can be a trial and error endeavor.

8. Some anti-depressants - prozac and others in the category of Selective Serotonin Re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI's) - may cause cardiovascular problems in some people after long term use.

9. If you're taking hormone replacement therapy, too high a dose of estrogen or androgen hormones can lead to side effects like headaches and anxiety. Synthetic progesterone treatments are also often associated with depression.

10. Caffeine and sugar, in excess, may have a negative impact on recurring depression.

11. Estrogen boosts the levels of serotonin and acetylcholine, which are neurohormones that make people feel good, and are part of a normal memory.

12. Deficiencies of the B vitamins biotin, folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, have been linked with depression, as have vitamin C deficiencies.

13. Vitamin B6 is important because of it's role in making the monoamine neurotransmitters, which help stabilize moods.

14. Minerals linked to depression include deficiencies of calcium, copper, and magnesium.

15. St Johns Wort has been found to be as effective as prozac in treating mild to moderate depression.

16. Anecdotally, 5HTP has been found to help some people with depression who also suffer from weight problems and insomnia.

17. Our brain needs a small supply of good qualify fats every day. This is because nerve fibers are coated with a fatty sheath called myelin. Good sources of healthy fats include non-hydrogenated olive oil, sesame oil, and fish oil. Deficiencies of the omega 6 fatty acids may play a role in depression.

18. Depression is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.

19. Depression can increase the risk of more heart problems in people with coronary heart disease.

Source: http://www.healthguidance.org/authors/144/Rebecca-Prescott

Rebecca Prescott

Rebecca Prescott provides information about popular supplements with a philosophy that is grounded in getting your body working to its optimum. And if you're looking for a natural supplement to boost metabolism, be sure to check out this article at http://www.vitaminstohealth.com for some of nature's little helpers.

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Cures for Depression

People who suffer from depression try and find ways to combat the feelings of hopelessness that can attack them during a bout of being depressed. So what are the cures for depression that can be found to work? The first thing that you need to know is that there are different types of depression and each of these need to be treated and cured in different ways.

Before any sort of cure can be administered the depression sufferer must admit that they have depression. Afterwards they can seek the help and advice of trained mental health specialists to find out how they can cure their depression. The treatment will be started once their exact condition has been identified. At the current moment in time the cures for depression comprise of medications, herbal treatments, alternative medicines and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Some of these treatments are long term and can eventually cure the depression sufferer of their aliment. Other medications act only as a way of controlling the bouts of depression. Many of these treatments work best in conjunction with each other. At the present the medication that is prescribed for depression is that of antidepressants. These tablets fall into three main categories.

The categories are that of Tricyclics, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors. All of these cures for depression work by altering the chemical patterns within the brain. They try to suppress or control the levels of the chemical serotonin in the brain. By suppressing the chemical activity in the brain that leads to depression these medical tablets can cure depression eventually.

The alternative herbal medicational cures for depression are many. However herbal remedies can be taken only in small time periods with the advice of a trained herbalist. As with normal medications herbal remedies also have side effects that may not agree with your body and the type of depression that you suffer from. To find out whether these cures for depression will work you should talk with your doctor before you start treatment.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is another proven form of cure for depression. With this therapy you relearn your reaction to situations that can lead you into depression. Also you learn how to cope with the day to day situations that you will find yourself in. This way the problems can't overwhelm you and make you feel like a failure for not being able to solve them quickly.

For sufferers of depression the hope that proven cures for depression will work for them and the type of depression that they suffer from gives these people the strength to keep trying various ways of returning to a normal life. The many medications, herbal remedies and therapies that are available, are the cures for depression that we now have at hand. Maybe someday in the future depression can become completely cured and be just a bad memory.

Source: http://www.healthguidance.org/authors/371/Krishan-Bakhru

Krishan Bakhru

Krishan Bakhru is the editor of http://www.easyhomeremedy.com.

Depression Screening

When you are suffering from a serious medical condition like diabetes, high blood pressure or even depression there are ways to see the first signs and symptoms of a serious illness. With depression screenings it is possible for people who would otherwise not seek medical aid to know if they need medical treatment for depression.

The National Depression Screening Project sponsors National Depression Screening Day. They also operate toll free, year round phone lines. Callers can find out about confidential screening locations that are near them.

There are many reasons why a person should go for depression screenings. Reasons like the fact that depression can happen to any person at any time of their lives, making it vital to know early on if you are a potential depression victim. Other reasons for depression screenings include knowing that depression can complicate any existing medical conditions that you might have.

In spite of the fact that depression is a mood disorder, many people still believe that the symptoms of depression are a normal part of life. Since anyone can be affected by depression, having a depression screening early on can help you to control and cure the effects of depression. Taking a depression test is the first step to getting some much needed help.

Depression screenings offer individuals the chance to find out if they are potential sufferers of depression. These screenings also let the various people know and understand what depression really is. They also are informed about the various types of depression and the symptoms of depression.

By going for depression screenings you can ask for information regarding depression and the available treatments and medications that you may need. Should you need information about any medical or mental health care facilities that are near, the Depression Screening Project will be able to provide you with this information.

All of the depression screenings are free and they are also confidential. While you are there you can listen to an educational session about depression. This information will make you understand every aspect of depression and what it can do to your life. There will be a written exam that you need to complete. When you receive the results you can talk with any of the doctors who are there. They will provide you with all of the information that you require.

People who suffer from depression need to see a doctor and receive some help and advice. While depression screenings can inform you if you are showing the signs of depression it does not replace medical evaluation or a trained mental health specialists advice and aid. Depression screenings point out the signs and symptoms of depression early in the illness so that you can get help before the depression becomes too severe.

Source: http://www.healthguidance.org/authors/371/Krishan-Bakhru

Krishan Bakhru

Krishan Bakhru is the editor of http://www.easyhomeremedy.com.