Depression, Exercise and the Serotonin Connection
According to the National Institute of Mental Illness, approximately 12 million women in the United States experience depression every year. The rate of depression in women is almost double that of men. More people suffer from depression than AIDS, cancer, and coronary heart disease. About fifteen percent of those affected with severe and chronic depression commit suicide. It's not entirely clear why women are more prone to depression but some research indicates that hormones, genetics, social issues including abuse and violence, as well as personality types can all pay a role. While the news sounds bad for women, the encouraging fact is that depression is a highly treatable disease. Common treatments for the disorder are medication and therapy. However, exercise is playing an increasing role in the treatment of depression as science brings a better understanding of brain chemistry and the treatment benefits of exercise.

One of the key neurotransmitters in the brain is serotonin. The link between depression and serotonin has been well established and in fact, serotonin has wide ranging influence over a number of the brains functions. Serotonin is linked to a mental health diagnosis including depression and anxiety as well as other problems such as hypertension, obesity, nausea and migraines. Increasing serotonin levels has a positive effect on the symptoms of these disorders. The newest medications used in the treatment of depression for example, SSRI's (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) work to increase serotonin. Exercise offers an alternative or supplemental way to raise the levels of serotonin. The more vigorous the exercise, the better results but even moderate exercise has positive results.

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