Depression affects about 9.5% of the U.S. adult population each year. It is estimated that approximately 17% of the U.S. population will suffer from a major depressive episode at some point in their life. Depression causes 40 billion dollars a year in missed work and medical costs which makes this illness the leading cause of disability in America. Recent research suggests that between 1987 and 1997, the rate of outpatient treatment for depression in the United States tripled and that health care costs are skyrocketing higher each year. Research has also shown that depressed patients are less fit and have an 80 to 90 percent less workload than their age appropriate counterparts. This can also contribute to other physical health problems, which in turn could combine and intensify the symptoms of MDD.
Author: ryankoslica
Cortisol, Biology, and Disease
CVD, Obesity, Inflammation, Diabetes and a lot more diseases can increase the chances of developing symptoms of depression or other mental illness. Exercise can not only lower the risk of bio markers for most all cause mortality diseases, but also can help get cure or manage diseases like diabetes and inflammation which will lower cortisol levels and symptoms of depression and PTSD. Not only does exercise have massive impacts on the brain, but can also have dramatic biological effects like weight loss, higher self image, confidence, lower blood cholesterol, and improved respiratory function. Losing weight and improving respiratory function can benefit sleep immensely which leads to a reduction in symptoms of depression and mental disorders. Exercise can improve function of most major body systems, which will in turn lead to higher cognitive function, lower cortisol levels, and can lead to a better ability to cope with stress which lowers the chance of depressive symptoms.
Hare DL, Toukhsati SR, Johansson P, Jaarsma T. Depression and cardiovascular disease: a clinical review. Eur Heart J. 2014;35(21):1365–1372. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/eht462
Prescription Fitness
Can Fitness Help With Mental Illness?
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths.
— Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Everyone knows the benefits of fitness and healthy exercise habits. However, studies now are coming into light showing that regimens of exercise specifically aerobic can help with symptoms of depression, PTSD, and other mental disorders. Studies have concluded that just 30 minutes of aerobic exercise can decrease the symptoms of depression in the same manner as the world leading prescription antidepressant. Studies concluded that exercise produces these benefits, ones similar too, and many more in all birth cohorts across the boards, even in people with other serious diseases. If exercise can have a similar effect to antidepressants, stacking it on top of current treatment protocols could only decrease the symptoms and lead us towards a path to a better, healthier life.
Micheli L, Ceccarelli M, D’Andrea G, Tirone F. Depression and adult neurogenesis: Positive effects of the antidepressant fluoxetine and of physical exercise. Brain Res Bull. 2018;143:181–193. doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2018.09.002
Toups M, Carmody T, Greer T, Rethorst C, Grannemann B, Trivedi MH. Exercise is an effective treatment for positive valence symptoms in major depression. J Affect Disord. 2017;209:188–194. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.08.058
Change Your Neurotransmitters
How exercise can change the chemistry of your brain.
Exercise has been proven to have tremendous and beneficial effects on our human biology. When it comes to mental illness and things like depression, the main issues reside in the brain. So what if you could physically alter the neurochemistry in your brain with just a simple diet of exercise? Studies done by the Journal of Medical Sciences, have shown that 30-45 minutes of medium aerobic exercise actually alters the way your brain produces neurotransmitters. During exercise your brain ramps up its natural production of serotonin and dopamine which can last throughout the day. These are simply the happy chemicals in our brain and can lower the symptoms of depression and other stress and mental disorders.
Gujral, Swathi et al. “Exercise effects on depression: Possible neural mechanisms.” General hospital psychiatry vol. 49 (2017): 2-10. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2017.04.012
Prescription Fitness 