Relation between stroke and depression ad heart attacks and depression. (duh)

[No Elephants]

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2013/01/22/Patients-with-stroke-linked-to-depression/UPI-93781358905407/?spt=hs&or=hn

Gee, I can't imagine why anyone who has had a stroke or a heart attack would be depressed, can you?

The diet, exercise and lifestyle that you get prescribed alone would depress anyone.

So would totally understandable fear of another stroke or heart attack.

More interesting to me: Is there a common thread between being pre-disposed to stroke and being pre-disposed to depression.



I think it's been far easier for the medical profession to chalk up physical illnesses to psychological causes than to search for physical causes of what we consider psychological illnesses. It is beginning to change, but all too slowly.

We know medicines can cause depression, anger, etc. in relatively short order. How is that possible, unless our body acts on our "minds" at least as much as our "minds" affect our physical well being?

What if depression is caused by something like food allergies, or constricted blood vessels? Does anybody even look into things like that?

[Divine Discontent]

1. good point

depression or other ailments could be caused by those things. I know when my BP is up, It effects me and so clearly It amazes me how really ill people can stay decently positive. truly inspiring.

so yeah, you'd think with all the studies that are done, they'd look into things like does drinking soda lead to depression, well that one popped into my head because they did that one and said higher risk, yes.

[No Elephants]

3. When I was very ill, I was probably at my most peaceful and positive.

A friend brought a tape recorder and taped hymns to the hospital.

Full of tubes and scars, I would listen to "It is Well With My Soul" and think, "Yes, it really is."

Grace is the only way that I can explain it.

[Enthusiast]

4. Peaceful and positive sounds good.

Sorry to hear that you had a serious ailment. I hope you are all better now.

[No Elephants]

7. I will never be all better. But, I ain't dead, either, which is much better than was expected.

But, being very close to death and having a chronic condition (or several) are very different things.

I used to whine a lot more about just being tired than I ever did about being touch and go.

That reminds me: I would recommend for everyone with a chronic condition or any serious illness a book called My Grandfather's Blessings. Not only would I recommend it, but, if I could, I would make it required reading.

[Divine Discontent]

6. thank you for saying that about grace sustaining you...

and what a nice friend to bring you taped hymns.

[No Elephants]

8. You are grace, too, you know, being as nice as you are to everyone.

I'm guessing you've sustained quite a few people. I know you do me.

I had great visitors in the hospital. They brought me all kinds of encouraging things. One couple even brought their three kids to the nursing home on --wait for it--Christmas Day. And they were not my only visitors on Christmas Day, either. I was beyond touched and grateful.

A lot of clergy came too.

My surgeon snarked about them being in the way, but, eventually, he and I got on very well. Everybody else, even the nurses, were terrified of him, but, at some point, I got that he was all bark, no bite.

When I got transferred to the nursing home, he even came once, just to say hello. His mom was there on another floor, but still, that was time he took, just to say hi and socialize with me for a few minutes. Told me that he had told his mother that laughter was like a medicine. (He was Jewish. I had told him weeks earlier that Proverbs had a verse about that.)

[Enthusiast]

2. This is an extremely complicated issue.

For example; I have celiac disease. I can be free of celaic symptoms, which can include depression, if I completely eliminate wheat gluten from my diet.

Recently I have had a very difficult time of eliminating gluten from my diet because two of my generic blood pressure medications apparently utilize wheat gluten as an ingredient binder.

If depression was the only symptom of celiac I would actually be relieved. But the symptoms are manifold. And the symptoms alone are enough to cause depression. I'm sure it causes a spike in my blood pressure, lol.

Just yesterday I was allowed to replace one of the generic BP meds with the ultra expensive "authentic" one. But the medicare and the insurance company will not pay for the real drug anyway. Getting old ain't for sissies. I'm just saying.

[Divine Discontent]

5. my thoughts/vibes and prayers for you. yes, it sounds like just the concern over it alone is enough

to cause your BP to go up! getting old aint for sissies, indeed.

[No Elephants]

9. Exercise should help BP. Also yoga, meditation and other techniques.

I know, I know. Who want to do all that. But, you could at least reduce your need for BP meds.

But, I am sure you know that.

Smile more then, whether you want to or not. Apparently, that tells your brain that it's happy and it released endorphins or whatever. Apparently, our brain are easily duped by physical movements.

P.S. Have you considered an appeal? With a letter from your doc, you might win.

[Enthusiast]

10. Thanks, No Elephants,

You are nice, even under when you don't feel well.

I heard about the smile thing. It makes sense but is hard to pull off under the circumstances. I smiled once, yesterday evening.

At one time I was an avid weight lifter and runner. Then, a traumatic event changed my life.

Now I cannot exercise at all. Most activity is challenging. Neck vertebrae stenosis, avascular necrosis in my hips and osteoarthritis in old injuries sustained in an auto crash will not allow vigorous activity. I've had several surgeries to correct various problems, with more to come. Back surgery helped the sciatica somewhat. Hip replacement helped the one dead hip, to a degree. Three more surgeries and I'll be as good as new, lol.

A mere 60 mile round trip drive to the grocery store the other day left my gas pedal ankle swollen and painful. I get around on a cane anyway but I do not go far. The fewer steps the better at this point. Like I said before, I've wanted to go fishing, like since June, haven't made it yet.