Global Health Asia-Pacific July 2020 July 2020 | Page 61
and regulate these levels. Genetics can also play a
role. For example, if a woman has a family history of
depression, she will be more at risk of developing it
herself.
Physical problems or illnesses can be another
common cause of depression. Having to deal with
a serious medical illness, such as cancer, stroke,
or a heart attack, can lead a person to feel low. An
under active pituitary gland (hypopituitarism), which is
located just under the brain and controls the actions
of various hormones, can cause uncontrolled weight
gain, sexual problems and depression. Symptoms
can include feeling low, tearful and tired. Head injuries
have also been shown to cause depression, even if
they happened many years ago and were mild at the
time.
Biological and hormonal imbalances can make
women more susceptible to depression as result of
fluctuating hormone levels during different periods
in their life. Women also produce more stress
hormones than men, for example, progesterone,
which is a female sex hormone that prevents the
stress hormone from turning itself off. As a result,
depression in women can start during menstruation,
premenstruation, pregnancy, the postpartum period,
perimenopause and menopause.
For example, during premenstruation, hormone
fluctuations can cause a number of symptoms, such
as fatigue, bloating, irritability and, in some cases,
depression. During pregnancy, hormones fluctuate
more, leading many women to have feelings of
depression. These feelings can be extreme in cases of
miscarriage, infertility or abortion.
Giving birth can be overwhelming for most women,
after their bodies have experienced so many physical
and emotional changes. After birth, some women
can feel down or depressed, sometimes called “baby
blues.” This usually subsides after a few weeks,
but, for some women, can last longer, with feelings
intensifying into what is called postpartum depression.
The period just before menopause, called
perimenopause, is another vulnerable time for many
women as their reproductive hormones start to rapidly
fluctuate and can cause feelings of depression. This
period is followed by the onset of menopause, which
can bring about similar feelings.
Aging is another trigger of depression in some
women. The elderly suffer from a number of illnesses
that can affect them psychologically, such as
dementia. Physical ailments, for example polymyalgia
rheumatic, can affect older people and cause
stiffness, aching, and shoulder and upper arm pain
that can lead to depression.
Treating depression in women
While there are a number of causes of depression
in women, the main symptoms they experience are
feelings of sadness, anxiety and hopelessness.
Some women lose interest in daily activities, hobbies
and things they en�oy. Many have difficulty staying
focused, making decisions or remembering important
facts. Depression can affect appetite, with some
They tend
to lack
energy and
enthusiasm
for life. Many
are easily
annoyed,
irritable
and lose
their temper
quickly. More
serious signs
of depression
include
thoughts
of hurting
oneself either
physically or
mentally and
thoughts of
death and
suicide.
Giving birth can be overwhelming for many women
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