Criteria for diagnosing depression

The initial diagnosis of depression is made clinically on the basis of: • Identified pathology as a result of a psychiatric examination (based on expressed complaints or using special Research Methods or rating scales) • Anamnesis • The course, as well as etiological factors (triggers, conflicts, organic diseases) family predisposition). 



When deciding on treatment , the severity of the patient’s condition, which is recommended to be determined using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), is primarily taken into account.  

Questions for a patient with a history of depression :
• Since when has depressed mood been observed?
• Triggers and aggravating factors?
• Thoughts on fatigue from life?
• A positive family history?
• First manifestation, episode recurrence rate?
• Bipolar course (manic episodes)?
• Previous treatment?

Key diagnostic tests for depression

• Corresponding neurological status, somatic / physical examination
• Measurement of blood pressure, heart rate
• ESR, blood picture
• Electrolytes (sodium, calcium, potassium), fasting blood for sugar
• Functional kidney and liver tests
• Thyroid parameters (T3, T4, basal level of TSH)
• Vitamin B12, TRNA (test for syphilis)
• EEG
• If necessary CT / MRI
• If necessary, test for dexamethasone (monitoring the course)

Signs of a depressive episode according to ICD-10

a) Main symptoms (group 1) 1. Depressed mood 2. Loss of interest and joy 3. Decreased motivation and increased fatigue 


b) Secondary symptoms (group 2) 1. Reduced ability to concentrate and attention 2. Low self-esteem and self-doubt 3. Feeling guilty and self-worthlessness 4. Negative and pessimistic prospects for the future 5. Suicidal thoughts, plans and / or actions 6. Sleep Disorders 7. Decreased appetite 






c) Minimum duration : 2 weeks. 

d) Types of course : – recurrent (> 2 episodes) 

F32.0: mild depressive episode
2 symptoms from group 1
2 symptoms from group 2

F32.1: mild depressive episode
Minimum 2 symptoms from group 1
Minimum 3 symptoms from group 2

F32.2: severe depressive episode without psychotic symptoms
All symptoms from group 1
Minimum 4 symptoms from group 2
Lack of delirium, hallucinations, stupor

F32.3: severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms
All symptoms from group 1
Minimum 4 symptoms from group 2
Accompanied by delirium, hallucinations and / or stupor

Diagnostic errors for involutional depression (late age) : • Depression = retirement / retirement age • Somatic depression = organic disease • Depression due to grief = ongoing reaction • Depression impairing cognitive = dementia abilities • Chronic depression = character traits  




Subtypes and specific forms of depression

• “Somatic syndrome” according to ICD-10 (“signs of melancholy”, “endogenous depression”): – “painful insensibility” – there is no emotional reaction – vital disorders (disturbances in the feeling of one’s own body) – early morning awakening, morning depression – loss of appetite / body weight  




• Involutional / Age Depression (onset after the age of 60): – hypochondriacal mood and somatic disorders are often observed – nihilistic-delusional – relatively often picture of agitation – exclude pseudo-dementia! – a tendency to chronicity – in 1/4 of the cases (approximately) it develops into an organic psychosyndrome – high comorbidity with chronic organic diseases (cardiovascular, rheumatic)  






• Somatic depressions (first of all, depression in Parkinson’s syndrome and post-stroke depression) The so-called depression on the background of exhaustion is an understandable and explainable suppressed state that occurs after, as a rule, long-term affective long-term load  

Important :
Often such “erroneous diagnoses” as “senile involution”, “beginning dementia”, “isolation” are made. High mortality / suicidal tendencies in late life.

Getting rid of depression: causes and ways to overcome a depressive state

Posted on October 6, 2019  in Uncategorized

Bouts of depression affects all people. Moreover, much more than bouts of joy and vivacity. And this spleen and apathy is not always associated with unpleasant events or mental disorders. Our body is complex. The physical state affects the emotional in the same way as vice versa – psychological problems are transformed into diseases of the body. Therefore, depression is a serious thing, but it can and should be fought. Depression is a many-sided girlfriend, comes unexpectedly and for various reasons. Let’s look at the causes, ways to combat and prevent this trouble.    

Seasons and Physiology

The change of seasons , of course, affects all living organisms. In the fall, under the influence of cold weather and with a decrease in sunlight, we begin to mope. Getting up in the morning is getting harder, we spend less time in the fresh air and we don’t feel joy about the upcoming winter. In the spring we are tormented by vitamin deficiency and unstable weather. 

What to do?

Well, firstly, it’s convincing to tell myself that it’s sad not because I am bad or a failure, but the body just needs help. Vitamins will help maintain the body normal, and the spirit in vigor. After all, when the body begins to “stick out” from weakened immunity, then the soul is not up to flight. Eat more fruits. Now, thank God, this is not a problem. On the shelves there are always lemons, oranges, bananas, apples, greens. And in the fall it is also seasonal fruit.  

Take the vitamins that we are offered in pharmacies or as dietary supplements. The fact is that no matter how hard we try to eat properly and variably, there will still be a shortage of certain vitamins in the body. And for a normal healthy state you need to periodically take a course of vitamins. In case of a nervous system disorder, it is very good to “feed” the body with B vitamins, in the winter-spring period an additional source of vitamin C is needed. 

Girls still have to deal with the so-called PMS when the hormonal background changes, and for some unknown reason weeping and irritability are haunting us. If you start this condition, it can also develop into depression. Do not allow this. Cried, and went to the pharmacy for homeopathic remedies for women. Ingestion of flaxseed oil also helps to smooth out the hormonal background and feel more relaxed these days.  

Sleep and peace

Overwork and stressful situations are often the cause of depression. If you are tired so that it is unbearable even to get out of bed, have experienced severe stress, then the best medicine will be hours of sleep and immersion in silence and loneliness. Nothing is more expensive than health, and a worker with a frustrated psyche is unlikely to bring much benefit to the enterprise. Take a couple of days off for a weekend, or better yet, a vacation. Take care of yourself. Sleep as much as your body needs to recover completely. 

In difficult periods of life, I can sleep for two or three days, getting out of bed only for food. Allow yourself to do absolutely nothing. Let there be a mess in the apartment, unwashed dishes, and it is advisable that none of the households send them to their grandmother’s cottage. In such a state of complete rest and “doing nothing”, not only the physical strengths of the overworked body are restored, but also the psyche is cleansed of any negative. By the end of the third or fifth day, you will want to live, work, move, smile. Rest and peace will do the trick.  

Active life position and hobbies

Idleness is death for the soul and body. If a person has not realized himself in life, cannot find a use for himself, a severe form of depression may develop. It is very important for us to be recognized and appreciated. Down with idleness! Take every minute of your life so that even thoughts do not arise about boredom. Find in the depths of memory what you dreamed of doing as a child or as a student, and devote an hour to your free time. 

I dreamed of watching and painted woodwork? Fine! Find a teacher on this art, take a few lessons, buy the necessary materials and go for it. Everyone is talented by nature. It is only necessary to give the opportunity to realize these talents. Even if you do not become a great artist and do not exhibit at the Hermitage, you will definitely give yourself an hour of daily happiness.  

Employment and passion does not give the possibility of destructive thoughts to penetrate into our brain. Sport is one of the best cures for depression and a great hobby. We just do not have time to become depressed if we spend the whole day like a squirrel in a wheel: have time everywhere, talk to everyone, work, and then jump in the gym, ran home – tired, happy, and sleep. In addition, everyone knows that physical activity contributes to the production of seratonin – the hormone of happiness. Therefore, we stomp to the gym for happiness!    

Philosophy of life

It is always very difficult to experience setbacks and troubles . It is very useful for people with a weak nervous system, prone to self-flagellation and experiences, to learn the technique of auto-training in order to relax and calm down during periods of nervous tension. If you have such a tendency to excessive unrest, do not bring your condition to depression, warn her. And in general, it’s always useful to remember the golden wisdom of King Solomon: “And this also will pass.” Remember this more often. Indeed, everything passes, and troubles, and life. Should I spend it on depression? 

Complete depression. Causes of Complete Depression

Posted on October 2, 2019  in Uncategorized

1. Biological theories a. Inherited. Numerous studies have been conducted that confirm the involvement of heredity in the development of a depressed state. The incidence is apparently significantly higher among relatives of individuals with this disorder than in the general population (DSM-III-R, 1987). b. Biochemical. Violations of electrolyte balance, apparently, play a role in the development of a depressive state. An error in metabolism leads to a transposition of sodium and potassium within the neuron (Gibbons, 1960). Another biochemical theory gives importance to biogenic amines – noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin. Concentrations of these chemicals are inadequate in depressed individuals (Janowsky et al., 1988). Biochemical theories are contradictory. It is also necessary to establish whether depression is caused by biochemical changes or whether biochemical changes occur in response to the development of a depressive state. 2. Psychosocial theories a. Psychoanalytic. In this theory (Klein, 1934), importance is given to unsatisfactory relationships in early childhood between a mother and a child as a factor predisposing to the development of a depressive state. The baby’s needs remain unmet, which creates a condition that is seen as loss. The grief reaction does not find its solution, as a result of which rage and hostility turn on themselves. The “I” remains weak, while the “superego” strengthens and becomes punishing. b. Cognitive. Proponents of this theory (Beck et al., 1979) are convinced that a depressed state results from impaired cognition. Disturbed forms of thinking support the individual’s negative assessment of himself. Perceptions of their inconsistency and worthlessness prevail. Future prospects are pessimistic and hopeless. at. Theory of Learning. This theory (Seligman, 1973) suggests that the individual is predisposed to the development of a depressed state that he does not sufficiently control his life circumstances. It is believed that this belief arises from life experience leading to failure (imaginary or real). After numerous failures, the individual feels helpless in achieving his aspirations and therefore refuses any further attempts in this direction. This memorized helplessness is regarded as a predisposition to the development of a depressed state, d. Theory of the loss of an object. This theory (Bowlby, 1973) states that a depressive state occurs when a child is separated from loved ones during the first six months of his life or the latter refuse him. The process of forming bonds is disrupted, and the child moves away from people and the environment.

Clinic and classification of depression

• Traditional classification : – endogenous depression – reactive and neurotic / psychogenic depression – somatogenic (symptomatic / organic) depression 
 

• The current classification is based on the severity and course of the disease : – mild / moderate / severe / psychotic – depressive episode or recurrent form of depression 

• The following forms are distinguished as special forms : – postpartum depression – atypical depression – age-related depression – seasonal (autumn-winter) depression 



The main symptoms of depression

The main symptoms include depressed mood, decreased stimuli and speed of thinking, as well as sleep disorders.

Mental symptoms of depression :
• Depressed mood, joylessness
• Loss of interest
• Decreased motivation, loss of energy
• Self-doubt / guilt / internal emptiness
• Decreased thinking speed / inability to make decisions
• Fear / pessimism about the future
• Delusions are possible
• Daytime fluctuations
• Suicidal thoughts

Somatic symptoms of depression :
• Vital disorders
• Sleep disturbance (early awakening, the ability to wake up)
• Disorder of appetite
• Constipation
• Sensation of compression of the skull, dizziness, feeling of compression
• Vegetative symptoms

Examples of erroneous depressive judgments in depression :
1. Excessive generalization. General conclusions are drawn on the basis of individual events, for example: “Nobody likes me.”
2. The effect of “short circuit”. In the absence of supporting facts or in circumstances completely opposite to the prevailing judgment, a conclusion is arbitrarily drawn, for example: “Other people look down on me, I will always be depressed.”
3. Personalization (close perception). For no apparent reason, the events are projected onto their own personality, for example: “It’s my fault that N.’s colleague is in a bad mood.”
4. “Tunnel effects.” Attention focuses only on certain, in most cases negative things, events, for example: “My colleague does not like me” (and what other colleagues do is ignored).

Important : A pronounced risk of suicide in patients with depression! 15% of patients with severe depressive disorders die due to suicide. 20-60% of patients with depression have a history of suicide attempts, from 40 to 80% of patients during depression have suicidal thoughts.

If depression is based on physical symptoms, we can talk about somatized (larvir ovannoy / masked) depression.

Endogenous depression. Affective insanity

Hereditary diseases exist everywhere, occurring in the form of cycles lasting up to several months or more. In modern classifications, two types of the disease occur: monopolar depression, or depressive disorder, in which only endogenous depression develops, and bipolar disorder, in which manic phases develop, often followed by depression. Cases of manic episodes without depression are well known, but are rare. A depressive episode can develop without provoking factors, although it is often preceded by stressful situations or the loss of a loved one within a few months. The patient experiences depression, sadness or decreased mood, deep pessimism and a sense of hopelessness. Along with affective disorders, there is a loss of interest in all matters and feelings of pleasure, decreased performance, mental and physical fatigue, sleep disturbance (often with early morning awakenings), loss of appetite, weight loss, weakened sex drive and various pains, including headaches . Many patients, especially the elderly, develop agitation and anxiety, while others experience psychomotor inhibition. Typical signs of depression include self-abasement, a sense of personal worthlessness and guilt, suicidal thoughts, excessive fixation on somatic diseases (dermatological, rheumatological, etc.). Expressed complaints of worsening physical well-being or memory impairment may be mistakenly regarded by a doctor as manifestations of latent somatic disease or early dementia. Manic episodes are characterized by an increased background of mood and activity (excessive volume and speed of speech production, as well as all forms of psychomotor activity). With euphoria, the need for sleep is reduced. In severe manic states, inconsistent thinking is possible. The patient has many plans, but not one of them is fully implemented. Criticism is reduced or absent. The patient loses the ability to critically evaluate his own problems; inappropriate actions are possible with negative consequences for social status and material well-being. Despite increased activity and expansiveness, tolerance to frustration is often reduced, and euphoria is combined with irritability. In some cases, distinct paranoid symptoms and aggressiveness are formed. A particular problem is patients with schizoaffective conditions – a combination of symptoms of depression and schizophrenia. It has been proven that most of these patients suffer from manic-depressive psychosis. According to most neurologists and psychiatrists, genetic factors play the most important role in the etiology of manic-depressive illness, although the provoking effect of stress and other environmental changes is not ruled out. The high frequency of monopolar and bipolar disorder in the families of patients, as well as the 75% level of concordance in monozygotic twins confirm the genetic basis of the disease. Attempts to study pathogenesis based on measurements of serotonin, adrenaline, corticosteroids, dopamine and other metabolic products have not yet led to convincing results. At the present stage, in the management of patients with depression, drugs are successfully used. In monopolar depression, serotonergic or tricyclic antidepressants are usually used as first-choice drugs. Serotonergic drugs are more preferred as they cause fewer side effects. If these antidepressants are not effective, then MAO inhibitors are used. In acute manic conditions, it may be necessary to prescribe antipsychotics (haloperidol, torazine, olanzapine), and lithium carbonate can be used to prevent them. Approximately 20% of patients do not help the above medicines. In such cases, other drugs are used under the supervision of an experienceda psychiatrist. A sufficiently long medication may be required – several weeks before the onset of a clear effect and an additional 6 to 12 months of maintenance therapy. When prescribing any of these drugs, you need to know their side effects and interaction with other drugs well. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used to treat patients who do not respond to or tolerate antidepressants. ECT is the most effective method for the treatment of agitated and catatonic depression in patients of middle and old age; it can also be used to interrupt a manic episode. The main side effect of ECT is memory impairment, usually short-term. ECT is contraindicated in cases of increased intracranial pressure or severe hypertension.

Depression. Endogenous depression. Psychogenic (reactive) depression. Somatogenic depression. Clinic (signs) of depression. Emergency (first) relief for depression

Depression is defined as a state of depressed mood in combination with mental-speech and motor inhibition, somatic symptoms of the sympathic-tonic series (melancholic depression, melancholy). Allocate endogenous psychogenic reactive ) and somatogenic depression .     

Endogenous depression is characterized by the so-called “ depressive triad ”: asthenic affect (low mood, depression), mental-speech and motor block. 

Diagnosis of depression begins with the detection of manifestation of asthenic affect in the form of a decrease in mood from the hood, sadness, to a physical feeling of longing, localized in the region of the heart or behind the food, which sometimes reach a degree of “physical suffering”: patients declare “unbearable pain”, “breaks the heart ”,“ Squeezes like a vice ”, etc. Thinking and speech are slowed down. The whole world is perceived in a gray light. The patient has delusional ideas of self-accusation and self-humiliation, reaching the point of absurdity: a person recalls minor offenses of many years ago, etc. 

Mental and speech retardation is manifested by lethargy, passivity, lack of initiative, etc.

Motor inhibition is manifested in the fact that patients prefer to lie down, have difficulty trying to attract them to any activity, lose their sense of correctness in the actions they perform. The highest degree of motor inhibition is depressive stupor – a state of complete immobility. 

Depressive conditions are the most common cause of suicide. 

Psychogenic (reactive) depression refers to protracted reactive psychoses that occur after severe mental experiences associated with the death of relatives or close people, a real oufose for the life of the patient or his relatives, a sudden violation of familiar well-being, etc. The patient’s mood is depressed. He constantly thinks about the former incident, often begins to consider himself his culprit. If a loved one died, blames himself for being inattentive to him during his life, treating him badly. All these experiences are vividly demonstrative. Sleep is disturbed, somato-vegetative disorders appear. 

Somatogenic depression occurs with somatic diseases, mainly due to endogenous intoxication (see the topic ENDOGENIC INTOXICATION SYNDROME) and is manifested by a decreased mood in combination with asthenic syndrome: weakness, fatigue, irritability, and vascular reactions. 

Emergency (first) relief for depression

1. The appointment of antidepressants such as imipramine (synonyms: melipramine, imizin, depsonil, etc.) in a dose of 1-2 ml of 1.25% solution or amitriptyline in an amount of 2 ml of 1% solution in oil.  

2. Isolation of the patient in a separate room and careful monitoring to prevent self-harm and suicidal attempts.  

3. The call of the psychiatric team 

Hospitalization for depression . With manic-depressive psychosis, the patient must be urgently hospitalized in a psychiatric clinic.

Female depression in family life

Depression is a painful condition that manifests itself in a violation of the mental and physical functions of a person. The characteristic signs of manifestation of depression are the loss or decrease of volitional qualities, loss of appetite and sleep, decrease in body weight and interest in life, depressed mood, impaired memory and attention, slowness and passivity. 

According to global statistics, women suffer from depression 3 times more often than men. However, among men and women under the age of 28, the prevalence of depressive disorders is the same. In married women, the number of such violations increases markedly. Worker women are also less likely to be depressed than female housewives.  

This predisposition of women of childbearing age to depression is largely associated with changes in hormonal levels. Depending on the physiological characteristics of the female body, the composition and amount of hormones in her body often changes, which affects the metabolic processes of the brain and the mental state of the woman.  

The cause of depression in women is also a feature of her character. After all, everyone knows that the weaker sex is more emotional, reacts brighter to difficulties in life. Many modern women have problems with expressing anger. This is mainly to blame for the social norms of a society that requires women that she, no matter how difficult it is, should always be sweet and charming. Trying to always be a good wife or mother, a woman, when she has anger at loved ones, begins to cry, reproach, be offended and feel guilty about herself. And this is not anger at all, but simply an insult. Thus, women suppress the feeling of anger, and the constant suppression of this crucial emotion leads to depressive disorders. 

The most common causes of depression are loss: the death of a parent or child, the breakdown of a love or marital relationship, tremors associated with the loss of expensive things. Women more emotionally perceive problems in families and react to them more painfully. Especially housewives who devote themselves only to home are deprived of psychological support and they have underestimated the self-esteem that professional activities provide. Often husbands behave dishonestly and disregard women’s domestic work, which complicates the already not very cloudless life of women.  

A simple decline in strength and mood does not mean that you have depression. If phenomena such as insomnia, nightmares in a dream, constant anxieties that prevent you from sleeping soundly have appeared, then you can talk about the first signs of depression. And if such situations are repeated systematically, a woman should pay special attention to her health condition and seek medical help. You should not expect that this condition will go away on its own, because depression is a disease, and like any other disease it must be treated. The sooner you seek help from a specialist, the better. 

Depressive disorder can last for years, and with timely treatment for depression, you can get rid of it in a month. Having ascertained the specific events and situations that contributed to the manifestation of depression, having studied the characteristics of the character, upbringing, and habits of women, experts give advice on how to properly respond emotionally to life situations, better understand their feelings and thoughts, and increase a woman’s self-esteem. 

In addition to the course of psychotherapy , in more complex cases of depression associated with metabolic disorders in the brain, a specialist prescribes antidepressants. All modern antidepressants are effective and safe drugs. Today, the pharmaceutical industry produces a huge number of depressants, which differ in therapeutic actions, methods of administration and dosage. 

Many women neglect to fight depression and do not pay much attention to the manifestation of depressive disorders. However, all women should clearly understand that such a neglect of their health is harmful not only for her body, but it has a huge impact on the quality of life of all her surrounding people. Indeed, with depression, it’s hard not only for a woman, but her personal and professional life completely freezes.  

Depression – synonyms, epidemiology, causes

Synonyms . Depressive Disorder, Deep Depression, Melancholy

Definition of depression. Reduced mood, accompanied by a loss of pleasure and interests, changes in psychomotor skills and functional physical disorders 

The clinical syndrome of (deep) depression / depressive episode is a heterogeneous group of different types of depression (see. Classification)

Epidemiology of Depression

• Depressions are among the most frequent in the structure of mental illness
• Prevalence is 17% (women – 23%, men – 17%)
• In Germany, direct costs for treating depression are about 4 billion euros

Depression is recorded in the following categories of patients :
– 10% among patients observed by family doctors (depressive syndromes manifest in 25%)
– 15-25% among people living in nursing homes and boarding schools
– 15% among people over 65 years old
– 50% among people with Parkinson’s disease
– 25% among patients with Alzheimer’s disease
– 50% of people who have suffered an apoplexy stroke develop depression over the course of a year

Etiopathogenesis of depression

• Multifactorial conditionality (concept of vulnerability):
– interaction “neurobiology-stressors”
– the degree of depressive effect of life events on a person is determined primarily by individual predisposition

• Genetic factors / heredity:
– special family studies, studies of twins and adoptions confirm a hereditary predisposition. The risk of developing depression in children, one of whose parents suffers from this disease, is up to 20%, a similar indicator in identical twins is up to 65%

• Neurobiological factors:
– decrease in the volume of the hippocampus, neurodegenerative hypothesis
– neurobiochemistry:
hypothesis of a deficiency of endogenous amines (noradrenaline / serotonin deficiency)
concept of neurotransmitter imbalance

– hypothesis of the influence of stress hormone (confirmed by neuroendocrinological studies)
dysregulation of the hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal cortex and thyroid gland, as well as an increase in plasma cortisol

– chronobiological factors seasonal rhythm the
so-called daytime fluctuations shortening the phase of REM sleep

– pharmacogenic and somatogenic reasons (see. Differential diagnosis)

• Psychosocial factors / stressors – often have a psychoreactive expression (stressors, a difficult life situation, such as the loss of loved ones or other hardships) – psychodynamic and psychoanalytic models – cognitive and educational-theoretical models – cognitive triad: negative perception of self, environment and of the future – dysfunctional cognitive abilities – “forced helplessness” – the extinction of drives and needs – lack of ability to overcome – impaired self-perception and low self-esteem 
• Personal factors – “melancholic type” (accuracy, excessive correctness, sacrifice, accuracy down to pedantry) – “oral character structure” (low frustration tolerance, strong dependence on others, “dependent personality”) – “anal character structure”: obsessive traits 

Risk factors for developing depression :
• Female gender
• Presence of family history of
depression • Early history of depression
• Early loss of parents • History of
experienced violence
• Personality traits
• Stressors (separation, guilt)
• Alcohol / drug addiction
• Neurological diseases (Parkinson’s disease, apoplexy)

Sleep deficiency and health: risk of depression, decreased immunity

Modern life leaves its mark on most people and can negatively affect health. Constant stress, poor nutrition, inactivity – all this seriously affects the body. And if you add bad sleep, chronic lack of sleep or insomnia – the problem is exacerbated. The brain works in a multitasking mode throughout the day, simultaneously controlling all processes in the body, memorizing information, generating speech. If you do not give him proper rest, there is a decrease in working capacity, headache and depression. But not only does the brain suffer from lack of sleep, the body can also decrease immunity, form excess weight or increase pressure in response to persistent sleep problems. Why sleep is so important, why do you need to sleep every day? 

A third of life is in a dream: why?

As adults, people spend on average about a third of their lives in a dream. At least this amount of sleep is recommended by experts to preserve health. And accordingly, a third of the day is 8 hours, a standard recommendation on the duration of sleep in order to get enough sleep and maintain working capacity. But does everyone know why precisely such recommendations?

Despite the fact that sleep is one of the basic, vital functions of the body, and this is what all people, as well as animals with complex nervous systems, do, there are still a veil of mystery and a lot of myths around the mechanisms and theories of sleep. Scientists are still not quite sure why people sleep (and it is a third of the day), how exactly this mechanism developed. However, many hypotheses have been put forward today to explain why sleep is so important to health and how it affects the human brain and body function.  

Brain Function: The Effect of Sleep

Although the body goes into sleep, the brain does not turn off completely or sleep. However, during sleep, its mode of operation is significantly different from daytime. The analysis and “laying out in strips” of the information received per day, self-cleaning of metabolic products and “reboot” of the system: and a change of activity is also a vacation. Therefore, without enough sleep, the brain will not be able to function normally. Lack of sleep leads to problems with concentration, performance, cognition, memory, and brain productivity. However, when a person gets enough sleep, studies show that both children and adults improve memory and problem-solving skills.

Cardiovascular risk

The effect of constant lack of sleep on the health of the heart and the state of the vessels is known. People who sleep less than 7 hours a day are at a much greater risk of heart disease (such as stroke, coronary heart disease) than those who get from 7 to 8 hours of full sleep. In addition, people suffering from insomnia, naturally have a 15-20% higher blood pressure, which increases the risk of complications.

Depression, emotionality

It is proved that insomnia and depression are related. Often, sleep problems are considered the result of depression, although many researchers tend to believe an inverse relationship. Through years of research, scientists have identified several mental health problems, including depression, which were closely associated with inadequate sleep and sleep disturbances (insomnia, waking up at night, nightmares). One example of pathologies that negatively affect overall health and mood is sleep apnea, which is associated with poor sleep. In people with this syndrome, depression is much more common than in those who sleep normally. Overall, about 90% of people with depression are also experiencing sleep quality problems, including difficulty falling asleep, night awakenings, and shallow sleep.

Some researchers report that inadequate sleep reduces the ability to recognize other people’s important emotional signals, including happiness and anger. This factor can impede social interaction with other people, leading to communication problems and social isolation.

Inflammation and immunity

Against the background of chronic lack of sleep, the immune system suffers significantly . People who systematically lack sleep or suffer from insomnia are 30% more likely to have ARVI. One of the best things you can do to boost your immune system against colds or flu is to get enough sleep. In addition, the activity of immunity is important in the suppression of inflammation, including systemic. Systemic inflammation has been shown to play a crucial role in many serious health problems, ranging from heart disease to asthma, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and diabetes. Therefore, it is important to know that poor sleep can cause signs of inflammation and cell damage. One example is the relationship between poor sleep and inflammatory bowel disease, which has been demonstrated in a number of studies published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology and in the journal Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 

Physical performance and health

Inadequate sleep can affect health by decreasing physical activity. If a person is a lot in the fresh air, is engaged in daily activities or training, he definitely needs a dream to achieve the best results. For example, in a study in a group of older women, poor sleep was associated with great difficulty in performing daily activities, walking and with a decrease in grip strength. In addition, in people with sleep deficiency, overall health suffers. People who are usually active, such as those who are actively involved in various sports, also have better speed, recovery time. But if they sleep poorly, then the results are sharply reduced. This is especially noticeable in athletes in whom violations of the regime and sleep time reduce athletic performance.

Type 2 diabetes risk

If a person after 40 years sleeps less than six hours a night, then he has an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Poor sleep generally negatively affects blood glucose levels in the general population. Due to stress due to lack of sleep, mechanisms for increasing plasma glucose are activated, which predisposes to diabetes. This negatively affects health.

In addition, the weight changes. Studies have shown that insufficient sleep is associated with a 89 and 55% chance of obesity in children and adults. One reason for this relationship seems to be related to hormones. When a person does not get enough sleep, the work of appetite hormones is disrupted. For example, ghrelin appetite stimulant levels increase, while appetite suppressant leptin levels decrease. These reactions can lead to weight gain.

Social networks do not save from depression

Scientists from the University of Oregon believe that social contacts reduce the risk of depression, but this applies only to offline contacts, not social networking. 

It was previously shown that social exclusion negatively affects human health. And social support is a kind of buffer under the influence of stress factors that increase a person’s level of anxiety, increase his depressive state and emotional problems.

The study involved nearly 600 people who were formerly members of hostilities. None of them at the initial stage of the project had clinical depression, alcoholism and suicidal tendencies. Subjects were recruited via Facebook, but the results are applicable to other social networks.

Observations and polls showed that the frequency of contacts of subjects in social networks did not affect the risk of depression, post-traumatic disorder, alcoholism or suicidal tendency. These findings are consistent with the results of a 2015 study, which proved that only personal social contacts reduce the likelihood of depression, but neither telephone conversations, nor emails, nor paper ones have such an effect.

But another effect was discovered: people who more often communicated on social networks had more offline social contacts. So, of those who went to Facebook daily, at least 37% several times a day crossed with friends or family. Only 19% of those who did not use social networks every day arrived. These data refute the common myth that active users of social networks are less likely to communicate offline than those who are not their followers. Contacts in social networks do not replace offline communication.