What we should know about depression and Immunity

So, what is happening in the immune system that is promoting depression?  We know that when the body is under attack, from a virus for example, the immune cells secrete large amounts of inflammatory immune factors whose job is to destroy the virus.  This boost in the immune system, when allowed to go on for too long, may be what affects mood and causes depression.  Serotonin levels are known to be low in those with depression, and research has shown that immune- boosting substance can deplete tryptophan, a precursor used by the body to make serotonin.

One third of people taking immune-boosting drugs like interferon get depressed.  Nobody correlated this to an overactive immune system because it was just assumed that, if you were being treated for cancer or other serious diseases, the depression was a side effect of the disease, not the treatment!!!

There have been several discussions of stress/cortisol connection and how they relate to immune dysfunction. Cortisol is very important because we need it to regulate immune function.  But proper balance is critical.  When we are in a stressful situation our adrenal glands secrete cortisol, causing an increase in inflammatory immune factors. This event is normally short lived and when the cortisol is no longer needed, our brain sends signals to stop it from being released. Cortisol levels then goes back to normal, and the immune factors also revert back to balance levels.  But in depressed people the brain fails to control cortisol and levels remain too high.  Inflammatory immune factors secreted by our immune cells also cause an increase in cortisol secretion, adding to already excessive levels and thereby promoting depression.

Stressful events, high cortisol levels and the resulting inflammatory response, as well as viral infections, probably all play a role in altering mood.

Treatments that Works;

St John Wort, a potent anti-inflammatory, has already been shown to be effective in the treatment of depression. Omega 3 fatty acid has been shown to help people under stress or depression.  There are many more treatment and prevention methods to reduce any stress or anxiety.  The question that should be asked… Which treatment is best for me?? Where does the problem come from?  Go To the root of the problem.

Other basic recommendations to reduce stress is to be consistent in your sleep, try to be in bed latest by10h O ‘clock. It helps go through all the 5 stages of REM sleep.

Also, before bed time, avoid substance such as coffee or alcohol.  Other tips that can be a reminder to all of us are;

• Take a meditation course.
• Take breathing techniques early morning (oxygen flow to the the brain)
• Have a balance diet with lots of greens.  Nutrition is No 1
• Drink 8-10 glasses of pure filtered water every day.

Wishing you Good Health,

Anna