Sudden sadness, feeling down, losing interest or pressure in daily activities are a few familiar symptoms to us all. But if these symptoms persist more often and affect your life substantially, it may be depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7.6 percent of people over the age of 12 have depression in any 2 week period.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the most common illness worldwide and as they estimated, around 350 million people are affected by depression globally.
Before we start discussing its symptoms and effects, let us talk about the age group affected with the problem of depression:
| Age | Male (%) | Female (%) |
| 5-14 | 0 | 0 |
| 15-29 | 35 | 36 |
| 30-49 | 39 | 18 |
| 50-69 | 29 | 11 |
| 70 & above | 32 | 11 |
Symptoms of Depression
- Mood swings
- Low memory
- Dizziness
- Low appetite or weight gain/loss
- Insomnia
Worse effects of depression
- Brain damage
- Risk of heart disease
- Loss in memory
- Risk of suicide
- Reckless behavior or self-injury
Diet tips for Depression
- 2-3 cups of chamomile tea in a day
- Deep breathing exercises & yoga
- Spirulina & salmon fish oil capsule
- Black coffee, peppermint tea, lemon water, sugar-free yogurt
- Foods rich in Neurotransmitter – almonds, walnuts, dark chocolates, eggs
To know more about the disease and ways to reduce the risk, consult Dietitian Aqsa Afzal
