Mild Depression, Anxiety Could Lead to Premature Death

Article  written  by  guest  writer  Rin  Mitchell

What’s the Latest Development?

According to a recent study conducted by researchers, participants who indicated the “most psychological distress were two-thirds more likely than happy people to die during the various studies, which lasted for an average of about 8 years. But even those with the lowest levels of distress had a 16 percent higher risk of dying compared to distress-free people.” Yet, the cases of mild depression often go undetected by doctors. While researchers observed several factors—“such as smoking, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and social class ”—reportedly they proved to be non-significant. “One possibility, the authors say, is that psychological distress promotes inflammation and the release of stress hormones, which have a demonstrated ill effect on heart health as well as cancer.” However, mild cases of distress are not necessarily a cause for a medicinal approach. It can be addressed with natural remedies like exercise and/or lifestyle changes.

What’s the Big Idea?

Distress, no matter how big or small, is a serious issue that if not addressed—can lead to premature death reports say.  According to experts, milder cases do not necessarily warrant medicinal remedies—instead some healthy adjustments to a person’s lifestyle habits could help to alleviate the condition. “Almost everyone experiences some feelings of depression or anxiety, and the study authors emphasize their goal is not to recast normal distress as a dire medical condition.”