Medical Causes For Depression
Depression is a relatively common mental health condition that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in things and activities you previously enjoyed. Unlike feelings of sadness, which can occur following difficult situations, depression persists every day for at least two weeks and often involves other symptoms, like problems with sleep, changes in appetite, or loss of interest in your usual activities.
There are many potential causes of depression, from life events and your family history to lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise. However, in this article, we will focus on the medical causes of depression, from chronic health conditions to hormonal problems and much more. Keep reading to discover which health conditions can put you at increased risk of depression and how you can help mitigate your risk.
What are some of the medical causes of depression?
The causes of depression are complex, and often, depression is caused by multiple factors. However, studies have shown that having poor health or certain health problems can increase your risk of getting depression. The medical causes of depression can be broken down into two distinct categories: poor physical health and physical health problems. Poor physical health relates to general poor health, making it more difficult to manage day-to-day tasks. This can affect your mood and increase your risk of developing depression. Physical health problems, on the other hand, relate specifically to health problems that can cause depression, like those affecting the brain and nervous system, hormone balance, or sleep. Below, we take a closer look at some of the most common medical causes of depression:
Chronic health conditions
Chronic health conditions are long-term health conditions that can’t usually be cured but can be controlled, such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and arthritis. These conditions can all make day-to-day life more challenging, and often people living with chronic health conditions must come to terms with:
- The physical effects of the illness
- Managing their symptoms day-to-day
- The treatments available and their limitations
- Communicating with their healthcare team and attending multiple appointments
All of this can place an additional burden on a person’s mental health and wellbeing, which if not addressed, can cause depression.
If you live with a chronic health condition, it’s important to seek support to prevent this from happening. This can be from friends and family, your healthcare team, and support groups specific to your condition.
Blood sugar and insulin dysfunction
Some research indicates a link between elevated HbA1c blood results (a three-month average of your blood sugar levels) and insulin levels with an increased risk of depression. What’s more, symptoms of poor blood sugar control have been shown to closely mirror certain mental health symptoms, such as irritability, anxiety, and increased feelings of worry.
This means that even if you have not been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, improving your blood sugar levels could be an important step in reducing your risk of developing low mood or depression.
To understand more about your blood sugar levels and whether they could be increasing feelings of low mood, book a private diabetes blood test.
Gut dysfunction
Many people experience ‘butterflies in their stomach’ or feelings of nausea during worrying or stressful times, but did you know this is because of the connection between your gut and your brain?
Your gut microbiome plays an important role in your mental health, as it is in constant communication with your brain via the vagus nerve. This means that feelings like anger, anxiety, sadness, and elation can all trigger symptoms in the gut. But this also means that poor gut health or intestinal distress can cause anxiety, stress, and depression.
As a result, people with gut health conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or irritable bowel syndrome can be at higher risk of developing depression, so managing symptoms can be crucial to your physical and mental wellbeing.
It's important to prioritise a healthy, well-balanced diet to help minimise your risk of low mood due to gut health, whether you have an existing gut condition or not.
Chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation is another potential medical cause of low mood and depression. That’s because when your immune system is activated, it affects both your body and your central nervous system, which includes your brain.
Chronic inflammation occurs when the body continues to send an immune response to attack cells even though the threat of a foreign body has gone. This can damage tissues and organs and result in pain and other symptoms.
For people with chronic inflammation, this low-grade continuous inflammation can cause changes in the brain’s chemistry and structure. This can increase your risk of depression due to:
- Neurotransmitter imbalance – inflammation may disrupt brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) like serotonin and dopamine, leading to mood imbalances.
- Hormonal disruption – inflammation can affect stress and sex hormone levels, which can impact mood and cognition.
- Inflammation in the brain – has been shown to cause cognitive and mood problems.
- Reduced neuroplasticity – chronic inflammation may hinder the brain’s ability to adapt and learn.
- Heightened oxidative stress- increased oxidative stress can damage brain cells and impact function.
To look after your mental health when living with chronic inflammation, it is important to seek medical treatments for flare-ups of your condition and to get support from friends, family, and local support groups.
Hormone imbalances
Imbalances in your hormone levels can also be a cause of depression in some people. Hormones play a vital role in regulating many body functions, so any imbalance in your levels can significantly impact your overall mental and physical health.
The hormones most often associated with depressive symptoms like changes in appetite, decreased pleasure in life, fatigue, and feelings of hopelessness, include:
- Adrenal hormones
- Thyroid hormones
- Progesterone
- Testosterone
- Oestrogen
- Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
As a result, it’s important to understand more about your hormones and how hormonal imbalances can affect your wellbeing. At Bluecrest Wellness, we offer a range of private blood tests that deliver key insights into your hormonal health, allowing you to understand and address any imbalances.
Other causes of depression
Although some medical conditions have been linked to an increased risk of depression, there are many other causes of depression, including:
- Childhood experiences
- Life events
- General outlook and way of thinking
- Other mental health problems
- Family history
- Certain medications
- Recreational drug or alcohol use
- Lifestyle factors, like sleep, diet, and exercise
It’s also important to remember that for most people, there is no single cause of depression, and usually, it is down to a combination of causes.
However, taking a proactive approach to managing your general health could help reduce your risk of developing depression by ensuring you seek timely treatment and support for medical conditions that are known to be linked to feelings of low mood.
Understanding your general health
If you want to take a proactive approach to understanding and managing your general health, consider booking a private health MOT with Bluecrest Wellness.
Our full-body health assessment packages are designed to provide comprehensive insights and include a range of key blood tests, as well as important metrics like your blood pressure, weight, and risk of certain health conditions linked to depression, like type 2 diabetes.
We use the latest technologies to ensure accurate results, and all our tests can be booked at a time and location that’s convenient for you. In addition, every full health assessment comes with a comprehensive Results Report and free access to a 24/7 GP helpline for a year for complete peace of mind following your health assessment.
