According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about
Past studies show that depression can increase a person’s risk for several health concerns, including a weakened immune system, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, asthma, and certain cancers.
Previous research has also linked depression to an increased risk for developing cardiometabolic disorders such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and
“Depression places a major burden on society and health care,” Yuri Milaneschi, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC) in the Netherlands, told Medical News Today. “The WHO predicts it will be the leading cause of disability by 2030. This is because depression’s impact goes beyond mental health — it can also influence the development and worsening of physical illnesses. We need to understand how depression affects overall health so we can improve prevention and treatment.”
