Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Can Depression Cause Upset Stomach

Diarrhea From Anxiety: How Does It Happen

Can stress or anxiety cause diarrhea?

The Gut-brain axis is the two-way link between your gut and brain and is responsible for anxiety-related digestive issues such as diarrhea. The axis is the connection between your central nervous system and your guts nervous system. The guts nervous system controls the gastrointestinal tract processes and can also impact your emotions through its connection to your brain.

When you are anxious, or under stress, signals are sent from the brain to the gut. The gut responds in the form of physical issues such as nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. Since its a two-way connection, if you have an upset stomach or other digestive problems, anxiety and distress are common outcomes.

Physical Symptoms And Outcome Measures

In addition to choosing the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic approach to treating the symptoms of depression, clinical management of depression should include the screening and monitoring of all symptom domains. All symptoms, including physical ones, must be measured in order to be treated fully. The symptoms still present in incomplete remission are important markers of vulnerability to relapse, and if all types of symptoms are not included in assessments, physicians cannot fully assess the treatment response and follow up on unresolved symptoms. Physicians and patients need to become aware of the broad spectrum of symptoms in depression in order to evaluate treatment effectiveness.

Reliable and effective assessment of Axis I disorders often includes utilization of a variety of rating scales used for both diagnostic purposes and follow-up evaluation. Recently there has been a call for including on rating scales all the symptom domains and social functioning/quality of life measures in the requirements for remission, but physicians may not be aware that there are already numerous standardized scales that measure these aspects of depression.

Where Can I Find Support

If you are concerned about any symptoms of depression or mental illness, talk to a GP or medical professional.

If you need to talk to someone about mental illness or a crisis in your life, please consider calling Lifeline on 13 11 14, or for advice and support contact beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.

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Can Seasonal Allergies Cause Stomach Upset

My wife often starts a few young seedlings of spinach, lettuce, and tomatoes in a sunny window before they go outside for the spring.

Recently, when we had a few baby plants in the house, I started having headaches and stomach upset and couldn’t find a cause until I spotted a few little sprouts of pollen that had shot up from the baby spinach.

Once the offending plant was moved outside, my symptoms went away.

As a functional medicine doctor, I am used to seeing new patients who have been misdiagnosed for years due to symptoms that don’t quite fit the mold of a standard diagnosis.

There are, no doubt, many people unnecessarily suffering because of a misunderstanding of how we think of certain conditions.

Increased Heart Rate And Blood Pressure

Stomach Upset, Discomfort, Distress Anxiety Symptoms ...

Depression and stress are closely linked and both have been shown to impact the heart and blood pressure. Unmanaged stress and depression can cause:

found depression to be common in people with uncontrolled high blood pressure. It also mentioned that depression may interfere with blood pressure management.

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Eye Problems Or Decreasing Vision

Do you find that the world looks blurry? While depression may cause the world to look grey and bleak, one 2010 research study in Germany suggests that this mental health concern may actually affect ones eyesight.

In that study of 80 people, depressed individuals had difficulty seeing differences in black and white. Known by researchers as contrast perception, this might explain why depression can make the world look hazy.

Surprises On The Scale

Depression can affect your diet habits. Some folks lose their appetite. Others nosh for comfort. Either way, depression can cause weight fluctuations.

The connection between depression and weight gain/loss is a bit tricky. Some antidepressant meds might lead to weight gain. But, on the other hand, antidepressants can also improve your general mood and motivation to exercise which might help you shed a few pounds.

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Causes And Risk Factors

The food pipe becomes narrower just before it reaches the stomach. This narrow part is normally kept shut by the muscles in the food pipe and diaphragm. But this doesnt work properly in GERD. It is often not clear why.

In some people it is caused by a hiatal hernia . The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities from each other. The food pipe passes through a small hole in the diaphragm and enters the stomach just below it. In people who have a hiatal hernia, the upper part of the stomach pushes up through the hole in the diaphragm and into the chest cavity. As a result, the diaphragm can no longer help to close the entrance to the stomach.

There is some debate about whether being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol can affect the sphincter or the risk of reflux and heartburn. Many of those affected say that their symptoms are triggered or made worse by stress or by certain foods or drinks. The symptoms may also get worse after physical activities or through certain positions, such as bending forward or lying down.

Sometimes reflux symptoms and heartburn are caused by a problem with the food pipe. For instance, the food pipe might not move rising stomach juices back down into the stomach fast enough, or it might react very sensitively. The symptoms can also be made worse by medications such as birth control pills and certain drugs against high blood pressure.

Some Antidepressants Reduce Acid Reflux

The Connection Between Anxiety and Stomach Problems

Contrastingly antidepressants are also prescribed for treating acid reflux and GERD when patients do not respond to proton pump inhibitors.

A low dose of antidepressants such as trazodone, nortriptyline, imipramine, citalopram, fluoxetine is found to reduce oesophagal sensitivity to acid reflux.

A systematic review study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2015 reported that antidepressants can modulate oesophagal sensation and reduce chest pain in GERD.

However, there is limited evidence whether antidepressants benefit a subset of GERD patients.

Quick Gist: Clinicians prescribe low dose antidepressants to GERD patients who do not respond to acid-suppressing medications. They are said to benefit in case of oesophagal sensitivity.

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How Do I Know If My Stomach Pain Is Severe

Stomach pain is usually harmless, but it can be a sign of serious health problems. If the pain persists for more than a few days, gets worse over time, or is severe, you should seek immediate medical attention. Conditions such as appendicitis present with stomach pains that can be life-threatening if left untreated.

Symptoms And Causes Of Depression

Symptoms of depression can be very different from person to person. However, as a general rule, if you are depressed you feel hopeless, sad and lacking interest in things that used to make you feel happy.

Depression symptoms are bad enough to interfere with work, social life and family life, and can persist for weeks or months.

Doctors describe depression in one of three ways, depending on how serious it is:

  • mild depression it has some impact on daily life
  • moderate depression it has a significant impact on your daily life
  • severe depression this makes it nearly impossible to get through your life day to day

A few people with severe depression may have symptoms of psychotic depression.

Below is a list of depression symptoms it’s unlikely that one person would have all of them.

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Prevalence Of Anxiety And Depression In Ibs And Uc

Two studies of IBS reported the prevalence of depression and anxiety based on HADS or the Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories . In Hartono et al, the excess prevalence of depression and anxiety was 38.7% and 6.5%, respectively, in IBS patients relative to healthy patients , based on diagnostic criteria of a HADS rating greater than eight . In Uz et al, the excess prevalence of depression or anxiety relative to healthy controls was 34% and 2%, with 4% and 8% of the healthy population reporting scores consistent with depression and anxiety . Pooled data are reported in and .

Portion of psychological condition attributable to gastrointestinal disease . Prevalence of concomitant psychological illness for irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis . Scores for depression and anxiety are reported for both IBS and UC . There were no studies reporting average STAI scores for IBS and no studies reporting average BDI scores for UC

HADS, hospital anxiety depression scale STAI, state-trait anxiety index BDI, beck depression inventory

Diagnosing And Treating Depression

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There’s no physical test for depression.

If you experience depression symptoms most of the day, every day, for more than two weeks, you should visit your GP. This is especially important if:

  • you have symptoms of depression that aren’t getting any better
  • you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide
  • your work, relationships with friends and family, or interests are affected by your mood

It can be hard for people with depression to imagine that anything can help them but the sooner you seek help, the sooner the symptoms start to get better.

Your GP may examine you and perform blood or urine tests to make sure there isn’t another condition causing your depression symptoms, like an underactive thyroid.

When you see your GP, they’ll try to find out if you have depression by asking you questions. These are likely to be about your health, how you’re feeling, and how that is affecting you mentally and physically.

Telling your doctor your symptoms and the affect they are having on you will help your GP to tell if you have depression, and how severe the condition is. It’s important to be as open as possible.

Your conversation with your GP will be confidential. This rule can only be broken if your GP thinks there is a significant risk of harm to you or others, and that telling a family member or carer would make that risk lower.

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Symptom #5 Exhaustion & Trouble Sleeping

Because depression and fatigue are so intertwined, it can be really hard to separate them or work out which came first.

Having no energy is a common complaint from people with depression. But theres a lot more to this than not feeling motivated.

Experts say depression causes a complete lack of energy termed anergia which can be so severe that moving around becomes excruciating. Some people saying that even getting out of bed is a daunting task.

This isnt tiredness that can be cured with sleep. This is fatigue which is a very different beast with people feeling exhausted from the moment they wake up.

Another physical sign of depression is sleepless nights and insomnia. This could mean having trouble drifting off or waking up throughout the night. But on the flip side, for others, depression can actually cause them to sleep excessively.

Different Types Of Depression

There are different types of depression, and there are some conditions where depression is a symptom. These conditions include:

  • Bipolar disorder people with bipolar disorder, which is also known as “manic depression”, experience times of depression, where the symptoms are similar to clinical depression. They also go through phases when they have excessively high moods . Bouts of mania can include harmful behaviour like unsafe sex, spending sprees and gambling.
  • Seasonal affective disorder is also called “winter depression”. It’s depression that is related to weather, usually winter, so it happens seasonally.
  • Postnatal depression happens to some women after they’ve had a baby. It’s treated similarly to other types of depression, with antidepressant medication and talking therapy.

Learn more about how depression is diagnosed here.

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How Common Is Indigestion

In the United States, about 25% of people experience indigestion each year.

This condition is mostly caused by eating too much or too fast at one time. Foods that increase your risk of indigestion include spicy, greasy, or fatty foods. Other potential causes include:

  • feel stressed
  • drinking too much alcohol, coffee, or carbonated beverages
  • eating foods with too much acid, such as tomatoes and oranges
  • smokes
  • taking certain medicines, such as certain antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Stomach discomfort from indigestion is caused by an increased sensitivity of the lining of the digestive system to acidity or stretching. In some cases, stomach acid breaks down the lining and causes irritation and inflammation.

Treatment for indigestion often involves medication and changing problematic eating habits, such as avoiding trigger foods, eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day, and reducing alcohol and caffeine intake. Antacids may also help.

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How Is Gerd Treated

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Treatment for GERD depends on how severe symptoms are. For some people, treatment may just include lifestyle changes, such as changing what they eat or drink. Others will need to take medicines. In very rare cases, when GERD is particularly severe, a doctor will recommend surgery.

These lifestyle changes can help ease the symptoms of GERD or even prevent the condition:

  • quitting smoking
  • avoiding carbonated beverages
  • avoiding foods that trigger reflux

It also can help to not lie down for 3 hours after a meal and to not eat 2 to 3 hours before going to bed. Doctors sometimes also recommend raising the head of the bed about 6 to 8 inches. Before you start a major bedroom makeover, though, talk to your doctor and your parents about the best sleeping position for you.

If symptoms continue, doctors might prescribe medicine, such as:

  • H2 blockers, which can help block the production of stomach acid
  • proton pump inhibitors, which reduce the amount of acid the stomach makes
  • prokinetics, which help the esophageal sphincter work better and the stomach empty faster. This can prevent reflux episodes.

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Not Just Your Mind Here Are 5 Things Depression Can Do To Your Body

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  • Depression is perhaps the most misunderstood mental health ailment in India. Often considered just as a sad phase that will go away on its own, the ramifications of depression on the mind and body are more often than not ignored.

    But the truth is that depression is not just a phase and that it actually alters the brain, because of which it needs medical intervention. Not just that, did you know that major depression can also wreck your bodys functioning, right from your immune system to your heart.

    In fact, here is how having depression can impact your body:

    1. Depression can cause inflammation in the body Depression and stress share an intimate relationship. In fact, a 2010 study published in the journal Current Immunology Review states that chronic stress initiates a series of changes in the way the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland interactthus triggering depression and anxiety.

    Both chronic stress and depression, hence, are known to cause inflammation in the body and weaken the immune system. Many scientists are also trying to understand whether its chronic inflammation that causes depression or whether its the other way round.

    According to an article in Harvard Health Publishing, when your brain is distressedlike when you are suffering from depressionit can send signals to your gut and intestines, thus causing an upset stomach even though there is no physical cause for it.

    Reducing The Causes Of Low Stomach Acid And Bacterial Overgrowth

    H.pylori. is a common bacterial overgrowth that can suppress the production of stomach acid. Unfortunately, this creates a vicious were both low stomach acid and bacterial overgrowth exacerbating each other into a downward spiral of digestive dysfunction.

    Although more testing needs to be done a low-carb diet has in two studies proved very effective at not only reducing the symptoms of GERD but in some cases eliminated them completely.

    It isnt necessary to stay on a low-carb diet permanently. As soon as the symptoms disappear and normal digestive function returns a low to medium low-carb diet should be enough to prevent the symptoms coming back.

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    Gut Issues That Might Be Linked To Mental Health

    2020 study suggests that changes in gut microbiota can disturb the two-way communication along the gut-brain axis, leading to depression. However, researchers still dont know why this happens.

    In other words: Do changes in gut microbiome cause depression, or does depression cause changes in the microbiome?

    A 2018 study proposes that its a little of both: Certain gut microbes might contribute to depression, and depressive states might cause changes in gut microbes.

    The neurotransmitter serotonin may also be involved.

    An imbalance in serotonin levels has long been thought to contribute to depression. But most serotonin is not created in your brain your gut produces of the serotonin in your body.

    Some

    this 2019 study , suggests probiotic supplements may be a good way to restore microbiome balance.

    If you want to learn more about foods that can help with stress, you can check out this list.

    Symptom #6 Youre Never In The Mood

    7 Home Remedies For An Upset Stomach

    For many people, depression has a marked impact on sexual libido whether its due to emotional reasons or physical reasons . Even anti-depressants can affect peoples sex drive.

    Whatever the case, its worth talking to your doctor about a change in sex drive, to pinpoint the cause and find a solution sometimes a simple change in medication or treatment can help. It might feel awkward, but remember, doctors are professionals and its their job to help.

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