4 health risks linked to depression

Occasional feelings of sadness, indifference and irritability are normal, especially during major life changes like the loss of a loved one or a cross-country move. But when these feelings begin interfering with how you interact with others and function every day, it’s possible you’re experiencing depression.

When that happens, it can affect nearly every aspect of your life, according to counselor and mental health expert Whitney Toothman, LPC, of Parkridge Health System in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In terms of physical changes, people with depression often have trouble sleeping or they may turn to alcohol or drugs for relief. And some people overeat for comfort.

“These behaviors can have long-term effects on your body,” she says. “You experience a weakened immune system, and that can set you up for a number of chronic health problems.”

The connection goes both ways, too, she adds. For example, those who start with chronic issues like diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease may develop depression as a result of those conditions—and that can exacerbate the original problem. Here are four health conditions closely tied to depression.