Depression and the Adrenals

Research appearing in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine (2005;67 (Supplement 1): S26-S28) helps to make the connection between the HPA (hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal) axis and severe depression. The researchers tested the HPA axis by giving the subjects dexamethasone (a synthetic glucocorticoid) and measuring plasma cortisol levels at different times on the following day. Dexamethasone works to

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Depression and Obesity Increase Inflammatory Markers That Lead to Heart Disease

According to research published in the August, 2003 issue of Brain, Behavior and Immunity, obesity and depression can increase inflammation that can lead to heart disease. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a chemical that indicates the presence of inflammation, specifically inflammation that can irritate the lining of the arteries and lead to heart disease. A high

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Antidepressant Drugs Linked to Suicide

Last year (2003) British health authorities declared that most popular anti-depressants might sometimes increase the risk of suicidal behavior in children and teenagers. They declared all but one — Prozac — unsuitable for young people diagnosed with depression, but stopped short of a pediatric ban. In March, the FDA urged close monitoring of patients for

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Anti Depressants are Bad to the Bone

Research appearing in the Archives of Internal Medicine (2007;167:188-194) shows a connection between the use of  selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (also called SSRIs—these are drugs like Prozac and other commonly used anti depressants) and fracture. Over 5000 subjects over the age of 50 were monitored for a period of five years. The researchers found that

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Anxiety and Depression

Lifestyle and core health issues have a lot to do with depression. Smoking, drinking alcohol, drug abuse, prescription medications, nutritional deficiencies and even caffeine use can contribute to depression. Eating a lot of refined food is also a major contributing factor. One of the easiest and often most effective treatments for depression is to exercise

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Thyroid Function During Pregnancy can Affect Child’s IQ

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (1999;341:549-555, 601-602), if a woman is pregnant and has an underactive thyroid, the IQ of the child may be adversely affected. Children between the ages of seven and nine, with mothers who had untreated hypothyroidism, scored an average of seven points lower on

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