Depression in women, a warning sign of stroke...

Findings suggest that depression may be a stronger risk factor for stroke in mid-aged women than was previously thought. A stroke occurs when damage to an artery deprives the brain of oxygenated blood, causing brain cells to die and allowing toxic chemicals to build up. To spot the signs of a stroke? Keep the “F.A.S.T.” acronym in mind: Face drooping. Ask the person to smile. Is the smile uneven? Does one side of the face droop or feel numb? Arm weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms. Watch to see whether one drifts downward slowly. Also ask whether one or both arms feels weak, tingly, or numb. Speech difficulty. Is the person’s speech slurred or garbled? Is the person able to understand you easily? Can the person repeat a simple sentence accurately? Time to call for help.

 Depression is a serious condition that can impact every area of your life. It can affect your social life, relationships, career, and sense of self–worth and purpose. Depression is common in women and according to the National Mental Health Association, about one in every eight women will develop depression at some point during her lifetime. If you’re feeling sad, guilty, tired, and just generally down you may be suffering from major depression. Other symptoms include: Loss of interest in activities you enjoy, Suicidal thoughts or recurrent thoughts of death, sleep disturbance, Appetite and weight changes, difficulty concentrating and lack of energy and fatigue.  But, the good news is, depression is treatable. The more you understand about depression’s and its impact on women, the more equipped you will be to tackle the condition.  To avoid depression, connect to others. Isolation makes the depressed feelings worse.  Schedule socially positive and nuturing activities even if you don’t feel like it. Seek out meaning and purpose through activities and relationships. Don't restrict your life to things that are easy and meaningless, like TV. Don’t  believe that doing something meaningful would take too much energy; truth is, the less you do, the more tired and worn-out you feel. Give to others, the more you give to others the better you feel, don't just give to people closest to you, hoping for something in return. If we reach out to others who are suffering or less fortunate, then we feel the benefits of giving and often our mood will improve.