Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.
Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:
Symptoms must last at least two weeks and must represent a change in your previous level of functioning for a diagnosis of depression.
Also, medical conditions (e.g., thyroid problems, a brain tumor or vitamin deficiency) can mimic symptoms of depression so it is important to rule out general medical causes.
Depression affects an estimated one in 15 adults (6.7%) in any given year. And one in six people (16.6%) will experience depression at some time in their life. Depression can occur at any time, but on average, first appears during the late teens to mid-20s. Women are more likely than men to experience depression. Some studies show that one-third of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime. There is a high degree of heritability (approximately 40%) when first-degree relatives (parents/children/siblings) have depression.
The death of a loved one, loss of a job or the ending of a relationship are difficult experiences for a person to endure. It is normal for feelings of sadness or grief to develop in response to such situations. Those experiencing loss often might describe themselves as being “depressed.”
But being sad is not the same as having depression. The grieving process is natural and unique to each individual and shares some of the same features of depression. Both grief and depression may involve intense sadness and withdrawal from usual activities. They are also different in important ways:
There are a few things you can do to avoid eye tension increase:
CT stands for computed tomography. It is a medical imaging technique that uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body. CT scans are used to diagnose a wide range of medical conditions, including cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
CT scans are performed on a CT scanner, which is a large machine that rotates around the patient. The X-rays are emitted from a tube inside the scanner and are detected by detectors on the opposite side of the patient. The data from the detectors is used to create a series of cross-sectional images of the body.
CT scans are typically painless and are performed in a hospital or radiology clinic. The patient lies on a table that slides into the scanner. The patient may be asked to hold their breath for a few seconds during the scan.
CT scans are a valuable tool for diagnosing medical conditions. They are quick, painless, and provide detailed images of the body.
The most common drugs used in general anesthesia are: