Posted by bruin on January 30, 2005, at 0:54:42
Exercise for Depression Rivals Drugs, Therapy
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
By Miranda Hitti
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,145487,00.html
Imagine a depression treatment (search) that soothed the mind and emotions,
protected the heart and zapped away excess weight - without side effects.Sound too good to be true? It's not. Such a remedy already exists, and it
doesn't come in a pill bottle, say experts from the University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center.
Aerobic exercise can make a big difference in mild to moderate depression,
say Andrea Dunn, PhD, and colleagues in the American Journal of Preventive
Medicine's January edition.The researchers found that 30-minute aerobic workouts of moderate intensity,
done three to five times weekly, cut mild to moderate depression symptoms
nearly in half. That's comparable to other depression treatments, say
researchers.Depression Common, Treatment Rare
In any given year, nearly 19 million adults in America have a depressive
illness, says the National Institute of Mental Health. That's more than 9
percent of the population.
Many suffer silently, not getting treatment that could help.Only 23 percent of depressed people seek treatment and just 10 percent
receive adequate treatment. That's partly due to social stigma associated
with treatment, say the researchers.
poster:bruin
thread:450036
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050128/msgs/450036.html