Sunday 14 April 2019

Physical health risks of depression and anxiety

Image result for anxiety

Research suggests that people suffering from anxiety and depression may be at greater risk of dying from cancer. The study found that death rates from certain tumours, including bowel, prostate and pancreatic, were higher among the most distressed.

University College London, with the University of Edinburgh and University of Sydney, analyzed results from 16 UK studies of adults initially free from cancer - dating as far back as 1994.  The 163,363 participants were monitored over a typical period of nine and a half years, during which there were 4353 deaths from cancer.

Dr. David Batty of UCL said: "Death rates in the most distressed group were consistently higher for cancer of the bowel, prostate, pancreas, oesophagus and leukaemia."

The team suspected that it may mean undiagnosed cancers could cause depression. So they excluded those who died in the first five years but the findings were the same.

Dr. Batty said: "Our findings contribute to the evidence that poor mental health might predict certain physical diseases."  He did add that it is not yet certain if one causes the other.

HMHB sees this as interesting. We understand how stress, anxiety and depression can lead to behaviour that ups the risk of illness - people are less active, do not look after their nutrition, and can turn to harmful substances to ease their mental health woes.  There is certainly previous evidence that links depression with cardiovascular disease.

Again, ultimately the responsibility for looking after our health and bodies falls to us to make the best choices possible. That comes from awareness, knowledge, and confidence.

No comments:

Post a Comment