North Carolina is ranked the 16th state with the most residents diagnosed with depression. Although depression is known as a mental health condition, it does have physical symptoms, such as low energy, trouble sleeping and slower movements.
The impact of depression doesn’t stop there. A new study also found depression accelerates the development of chronic conditions by 30%, specifically osteoarthritis, hypertension and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
"Just like eating healthy food and exercising can stave off chronic illnesses, making your mental health a priority can have the same effect,” explains Dr. Robert Bayne, a family medicine physician at Atrium Health in Indian Land, South Carolina. “These are called modifiable lifestyle changes. Many lifestyle habits directly affect your likelihood of developing chronic diseases.”
Other factors that contribute to chronic conditions:
Alcohol and/or tobacco use
Excessive alcohol consumption and/or tobacco use weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility to chronic conditions, like liver disease, heart disease and stroke. Studies have also shown that alcohol can increase your likelihood of developing cancer.
High blood pressure and/or cholesterol
High blood pressure was a contributing cause of over 685,000 deaths in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Often, high cholesterol causes high blood pressure since plaque buildup makes the heart work harder to circulate blood. Both can lead to heart disease and stroke.
Uncontrolled blood glucose
Diabetes is a chronic condition that can lead to fluctuations in blood glucose levels. Left unmanaged, it can damage your blood vessels and therefore lead to heart attack or stroke.
Obesity
Excess weight places additional strain on your joints, raising the risk of osteoarthritis. Therefore, losing weight is advised before undergoing joint replacement surgery to improve surgical outcomes.
Additionally, individuals with obesity often struggle to maintain a balanced diet, which can lead to poor food choices that elevate blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Inadequate sleep
An American College of Cardiology study discovered that insufficient sleep each night can raise your risk of high blood pressure by 7%. Chronic conditions like obesity can also affect the quality of your sleep. For example, obesity increases your risk of sleep apnea which results in interrupted sleep.
What can’t you control?
“If you have a family history of certain chronic conditions, it’s even more important to focus on what you can control,” says Dr. Bayne, who enjoys developing long-term patient relationships at Atrium Health Barnett Family Medicine. “If you are genetically predisposed to certain conditions, your health care provider will provide you a personalized recommendation of how you can reduce your risk.”
If you or someone you know is exhibiting signs of emotional distress, call or text the suicide & crisis lifeline at 988.
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