Tag Archives: Depression

Omega 3 and Depression

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Depression refers to a state of extreme anxiety and despair that often has severe effects on day to day activities of a person and his behavior towards the society. People who experience depression may suffer from tiredness, laziness, and sadness. It leads to nonconstructive thoughts in a mind of a person. Depression is regarded as a mental ailment and a person suffering from it should seek an advice from the psychiatrist or a physician.

There are several side effects that are related with the medication that is prescribed to overcome depression. To avoid these side effects, people are directing themselves towards natural medication. Over the pat years several studies have proved that there is an extensive link existing between relief from depression and Omega 3. The main sources of omega 3 fatty acids are flax seeds, fish oil, Canola oil, hemp seeds and walnut. However, fish oil has comparatively shown better efficacy in overcoming depression.

Three of the studies that involve Omega 3 fatty acids food supplement that can be found in various sources of food that includes fish oil and olive oil, proved that depression was relieved greatly following six to seven weeks. The studies also revealed that used both DHA and EPA showed more potential in comparison to the studies that used one of these fatty acids.

Depression in an organism is primarily due to deficiency of vitamin especially due to deficiency of vitamin B-complex in the diet. So, a supplement that comprises multi-vitamin is suggested as a natural medication to overcome depression. Besides these other sources that offers natural remedy comprises balanced and healthy diet, meditation, yoga, and exercise among the others.

The fish that has considerably high amount of DHA and EPA is known as the Hoki. It can also be used in highest quality supplements of fish oil. In other words, people who are looking out for relief from depressions and Omega 3 should look out for fish oil that is exclusively prepared from Hoki.

With the advent in the medical sector extensive research has been made for natural remedies in order to get relief from depression and its link with fish oil. Linda Knittel’s User’s Guide to Natural Remedies for Depression comprises all the information that is linked with anti depression and also consists of professional advice.

The research of omega depression includes clinical trials of the patients that are suffering from post-partum depression and bi-polar disorder. The studies that comprise omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are finding solution whether depression can be controlled by fish oil. The research of omega 3 on depression shows that inculcation of omega 3 in the diet will be of great help in reduction of post-partum depression.

A research study in London has shown that EPA serves as a good treatment for curing bi-polar complications. Due to the connection between syndrome of chronic fatigue and depression, the studies related to the efficacy of omega 3 in curing the condition have shown that the patients are responding in a favorable manner.

How to Diagnose Depression

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Depression is a medical condition. It is not just on one’s mind. It is not an imaginary illness. It is a real disorder that requires diagnosis. Hence, a person who suspects himself or herself of being depressed must undergo a depression test to confirm the existence of the said disorder. Eventually, depression is like any other illness that demands treatment.

Medical practitioners and mental health experts usually conduct several depression tests to diagnose whether a patient is suffering from depression or is merely experiencing other medical diseases that manifest symptoms similar to that of depression. Physical, laboratory and other examinations are included during a patient’s evaluation aside from the depression test. However, the primary tool to diagnose depression is through the symptoms experienced by the affected person.

Mental health professionals generally devise an assessment tool for depression. This tool is consists of questions that pertain to the symptoms of depression. It attempts to elicit what symptoms are experienced by the person seeking for mental health assistance. A person who manifests or experiences five or more of the symptoms for two weeks or longer is considered depressed. The following symptoms of depression are included in the tool used for depression test:

1. Loss of appetite that results to weight loss
2. Over eating that results to weight gain
3. Insomnia or difficult of sleeping during sleeping hours
4. Hypersomnia or oversleeping during waking hours
5. Feeling of worthlessness
6. Feeling of helplessness
7. Feeling of hopelessness
8. Feeling of too much guilt
9. Lack of energy or always feeling tired
10. Loses interest on previously enjoyed activities
11. Problem on concentration or focus
12. Difficulty of making decisions or remembering trivial details
13. Frequent suicidal thoughts
14. Restless, aggressive or irritable

The abovementioned symptoms are to be evaluated during the depression test. However, other medical conditions must be ruled out first through other diagnostic examinations.

The other tests conducted to ensure that the patient is not suffering from other diseases include blood tests, CT scan or MRI, electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram. The blood tests are done to verify that the symptoms manifested by the patient are not caused by anemia or thyroid hormone imbalance. Another component of the depression tests are radiology examinations such as CT scan and MRI. These are used to confirm presence of brain tumor. Furthermore, electrocardiogram is used to test existence of any cardiac condition that might have caused the symptoms or the depressive disorder itself. Lastly, electroencephalogram is utilized to assess variation or abnormalities in the brain activity of the affected person. All of these diagnostic examinations are done together with the depression test. But then again, these examinations are intended for ruling out other medical conditions, not exactly to diagnose depression per se.

Indeed, depression is a serious illness. It can cause functional and social disabilities to the affected person. In fact, it is one of the most common causes of death these days. Therefore, as early as possible, a person suspected for depression must submit himself/herself for depression test and treatment. Depression test is a reliable examination to diagnose depression. However, the result of a depression test must be analyzed by a medical or mental health expert to ensure that the diagnosis is accurate.