UNDERSTANDING THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF …



Consumer’s Guide to Understanding the Health Consequences of Untreated Depression

How Can Untreated Depression Impact Health and Memory?

Depression is a common health problem in all age groups. Depression is a brain chemical disorder that causes significant stress and suffering for the patient. Chronic depression increases the likelihood of health problems such as heart disease, disability from stroke, and poor control of diabetes. Many older persons with depression also complain of memory problems. Chronic depression that begins in later life may be an early sign of dementia. The physical and mental stress produced by depression may hasten intellectual decline in some older persons. Untreated depression in older persons may produce memory problems that resemble dementia, but these memory problems may improve with medications. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION – 2513.31

How Can We Treat Depression?

Medication treatment for depression is highly effective in all age groups. The treatment of depression may reduce or eliminate long-term health consequences produced by chronic depression. Medicines for depression are simple, non-addictive and similar to medicines for high blood pressure or other chronic diseases. Depression can cause anxiety (nervousness) in many patients and these individuals often receive tranquilizers called “benzodiazepines” (Valium, Librium, etc.). These tranquilizers are often addictive. Treating the depression with antidepressant medications will often reduce anxiety. Nerve pills or tranquilizers can sometimes worsen memory. Antidepressant medications are not addictive and sometimes help memory.

How Does Stigma Impact Treatment?

Many persons with depression refuse to seek treatment because of fear or embarrassment of being labeled “crazy”. Depression often causes patients to lose hope or faith that treatment can correct the problem. People who are depressed are not going crazy. If you suffer from depression, you should seek medical assistance. Depression is not caused by human failure anymore than high blood pressure or diabetes. If your friend is depressed, you should encourage them to seek treatment.

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