Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in the US looked at the health data of more than 15,000 older adults over a four-year period.
The study, published in the journal Health Psychology, found that 16 per cent (2,225) suffered from high levels of anxiety and depression, 31 per cent (4,737) were obese and 14 per cent (2,125) were current smokers.
Participants with high levels of anxiety and depression were found to face 65 per cent increased odds for a heart condition, 64 per cent for stroke, 50 per cent for high blood pressure and 87 for arthritis, compared to those without anxiety and depression.
"These increased odds are similar to those of participants who are smokers or are obese," said Aoife O'Donovan from UCSF. "However, for arthritis, high anxiety and depression seem to confer higher risks than smoking and obesity," O'Donovan said.
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Unlike the other conditions investigated, the researchers found that high levels of depression and anxiety were not associated with cancer incidence.
This confirms results from previous studies, but contradicts a prevailing idea shared by many patients, researchers said.
"Our findings are in line with a lot of other studies showing that psychological distress is not a strong predictor of many types of cancer," O'Donovan said. "On top of highlighting that mental health matters for a whole host of medical illnesses, it is important that we promote these null findings. We need to stop attributing cancer diagnoses to histories of stress, depression and anxiety," O'Donovan said.
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The researchers discovered that symptoms such as headache, stomach upset, back pain and shortness of breath increased exponentially in association with high stress and depression.
Odds for headache, for example, were 161 per cent higher in this group, compared with no increase among the participants who were obese and smokers.
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"Anxiety and depression symptoms are strongly linked to poor physical health, yet these conditions continue to receive limited attention in primary care settings, compared to smoking and obesity," said Andrea Niles from UCSF.
Make Notes, Eat Healthy & Exercise Daily: 7 Ways To Fight Depression
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Stress and frustration can lead to depression, further affecting mental health.
While it is imperative to consult with a medical professional if symptoms of depression are noticed, certain modification in one's lifestyle can help in combatting mild depression. However, moderate to severe depression requires the treatment with medications.
Nevertheless lifestyle changes do help in recovering as well as preventing the condition and future episodes.
Dr Pallavi Aravind Joshi, Consultant Psychiatrist of Columbia Asia Hospital Whitefield (Bengaluru) shares 7 tips to combat depression.
Stress and frustration can lead to depression, further affecting mental health.
While it is imperative to consult with a medical professional if symptoms of depression are noticed, certain modifica..
Read More
Go for a walk every day, jog, or swim. You can also join a Zumba class. Indulge in yoga or aerobics. Apart from keeping you fit and occupied, exercising can also boost mental health and infuse positivity in life by releasing feel-good hormones like endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. Exercise also channels out negative energy.
Go for a walk every day, jog, or swim. You can also join a Zumba class. Indulge in yoga or aerobics. Apart from keeping you fit and occupied, exercising can also boost mental health and infuse posit..
Read More
Eating healthy not only helps you maintain your physical health, but also aids in your mental well-being. Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, poultry, whole grains, low-fat dairy foods and fish in your diet. Also do not forget to drink a lot of water.
Eating healthy not only helps you maintain your physical health, but also aids in your mental well-being. Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, poultry, whole grains, low-fat dairy fo..
Read More
It is imperative to maintain a work-life balance. Try to reassess your schedule and not to bring the office work home. Design your own ways to combat work related anxiety.
It is imperative to maintain a work-life balance. Try to reassess your schedule and not to bring the office work home. Design your own ways to combat work related anxiety.
Though the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine may act as instant mood enhancer, in long term, they serve only to worsen your mental health. So try to reduce your weekly consumption.
Though the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine may act as instant mood enhancer, in long term, they serve only to worsen your mental health. So try to reduce your weekly consumption.
Depression can cause distraction, and make you forget things and thus can result in creating confusion and thereby affecting self-esteem. A great way to deal with this is keeping reminders on your phone, or jotting down key points on sticky notes.
Depression can cause distraction, and make you forget things and thus can result in creating confusion and thereby affecting self-esteem. A great way to deal with this is keeping reminders on your p..
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Do not let your work stress keep you away from your family and friends. Spend time with your family. Meet your friends, go out for movies, make plans get together. Even a short phone call or text exchanges could work like magic on a stressful day.
Do not let your work stress keep you away from your family and friends. Spend time with your family. Meet your friends, go out for movies, make plans get together. Even a short phone call or text ex..
Read More
Remember it is okay to be not okay, but it is never okay to give up on yourself. Get up, dress smartly and go out in the world. Pamper yourself a little more. Make a list of the things which make you cheerful and do at least one thing every day.
Remember it is okay to be not okay, but it is never okay to give up on yourself. Get up, dress smartly and go out in the world. Pamper yourself a little more. Make a list of the things which make yo..
"To our knowledge this is the first study that directly compared anxiety and depression to obesity and smoking as prospective risk factors for disease onset in long-term studies," Niles said.
