other natural defenses the body deploys, scientists have long wondered whether the mental condition made people more vulnerable to cancer.
Early studies had mixed results; research in the late 1990s involving 4,825 people ages 71 and over provided the first strong evidence that long-term depression could actually increase the risk of cancer.
After taking into account factors such as age, sex, race, disabilities, alcohol use, and smoking, researchers from the National Institute of Aging found that subjects who had been chronically depressed for at least six years had an 88 percent greater risk of developing cancer within the following four years. The researchers cautioned that further studies would be needed to prove any cause and effect.
If you are suffering from depression, it helps to stay connected with a support team. Here are 10 ways to stay connected:
- Talk to one person about your feelings.
- Help someone else by volunteering.
- Have lunch or coffee with a friend.
- Ask a loved one to check in with you regularly.
- Accompany someone to the movies, a concert, or a small get-together.
- Call or email an old friend.
- Go for a walk with a workout buddy.
- Schedule a weekly dinner date.
- Meet new people by taking a class or joining a club.
- Confide in a clergy member, teacher, or sports coach.