New research suggests that depression may hasten the progression of heart disease by increasing the levels of a key protein that causes inflammation. In a study of 32 people with heart failure, the 14 patients who felt the most depressed had nearly twice the levels of this protein in their blood.
A study in the Journal of Preventive Medicine indicates that exercising for half an hour per day, six days per week, offers significant mental health benefits — and for those suffering from depression, benefits are comparable to those of medication or cognitive behavioral therapy.
The Mental Health Foundation today launched ‘Blood, Sweat, NO Tears’, an email campaign to spread the message that exercise is good for your mental health. This follows the UK charity’s activities during Mental Health Action Week 2005, which included the launch of a year-long campaign calling for patients with depression to be offered exercise on prescription.
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