Be Happy - No Depression

If you've experienced gloomy moods, you know the toll they can take on your personal and professional life. But are you aware of the negative impact that depression can have on your health? Depression not only affects how you think, but it also affects your immune system, your patterns of sleep, and the natural processes that keep everything in working order, both physically and mentally.
Several studies have revealed connections between emotional well-being and immune system response. In fact, depression has been linked prospectively to hypertension, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and asthma. Whether depressive symptoms are a marker for or a cause of these conditions remains to be determined. However, numerous studies have shown that the interaction of depression and chronic diseases greatly increases the risk for poor health outcomes.One recent study in postmenopausal women revealed that even a mild case of the blues may increase the risk of developing heart disease down the road. Depression has been linked prospectively to hypertension, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and asthma. Although researchers estimate that up to six million men in the United States suffer from a depressive disorder every year, depression can be tricky to recognize in men as it often shows up as irritability, anger, and frustration