Understanding the link between mind and body is one of the most promising areas of research being conducted. Most recently, scientists from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine recently found that people with depression had increased hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Furthermore, the relationship may also be cyclical, since artery narrowing can also have an effect on mood.

Hardening of the arteries leads to an overreaction of the immune system and the resulting inflammation is known to release chemicals that can have effects on behavior, he added. The brain, too, can suffer from the reduced blood flow, reinforcing the depression and the resulting ailments, he wrote.

As a practitioner, I am constantly encouraging people to take better care of their physical health as a way to improve their mental health. Physical exercise, regular sleep, and a healthy diet can be wonderful tools in preventing and overcoming depression, and they are also staples in preventing heart problems.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 7 Feb 2007
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.