News 24 Depression and anxiety are harmful to health, such as smoking and obesity

The annual physical exam usually includes a weight measurement and questions about unhealthy habits, such as smoking. But a new study done at the University of California at San Francisco suggests that health care providers forget an important question: are you depressed or worried?

New research has shown that anxiety and depression can be a major predictor of disparate diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, headaches, back pain, stomach and long-term similar effects Long, such as smoking and obesity.

The study included data on the health of over 15,000 seniors over four years. Sixteen percent (2,225 people) had high levels of anxiety and depression, 31% (4,737 people) were obese and 14% (2,125) were current smokers, according to the study published in Health Psychology, December 17.

The study found that people suffering from anxiety and depression were at a risk of heart disease higher than 65%, at a risk of stroke of 64%, at risk of hypertension and at a 50% infection. The joints increase by 87% compared to those who do not suffer from anxiety and depression.

"This increased risk is similar to that of smokers or obese people," said one of the researchers involved in the study. However, for arthritis, it seems that extreme anxiety and depression carry higher risks than those caused by smoking and obesity. "

Unlike other diseases, cancer is an exception: the researchers said that high rates of depression and anxiety did not contribute to cancer. This is confirmed by the results of previous studies, but it is at odds with the idea that prevails in many patients, according to the researchers.