Dr. Taher Sobhy is board-certified physicians who serve the residents of Libertyville, Gurnee, and surrounding communities in Illinois. At Persona MD, the doctors specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and other related health conditions.
Depression is a common, but serious condition that affects how you feel, and can adversely impact daily activities such as sleeping, eating, or working. In Persona MD, we offer counseling and medications. Up one third of patients do not improve even after two or more medications. This is called treatment resistant depression. Treatment resistant depression can be debilitating for patients, and lead to thoughts of suicide and even suicide attempts. Fortunately, Spravato (nasal esketamine) is a new FDA approved medication shown to be safe and effective in patients with treatment resistant depression and does not require taking a daily pill. Only certain healthcare settings and physicians are authorized to prescribe and administer Spravato. Dr. Taher Sobhy is an official designated provider of Spravato. With a referral from your psychiatrist, Dr. Sobhy, can determine if you are an appropriate candidate for Spravato, assist you in getting insurance to cover the medication, and monitor you during administration of Spravato in his private medical office.
What is Depression and How Common is It?
Depression is an extremely common condition, characterized by feeling discouraged, sad, hopeless, unmotivated, or an overall disinterest in life. Everyone feels down sometimes but when these feelings last for more than two weeks or interfere with day to day life, it likely constitutes diagnosable depression. Depression is the most common mental disorder in the United States, with more than 15.7 million adults suffering from this condition. In addition, an estimated 2 out of 100 children and 8 out of 100 teens also have depression. If you are suffering from depressive symptoms, make an appointment at Persona Medical for a confidential evaluation.
Can Exercise Help Control Depression?
Even though depression is a mental disorder, exercise can reduce its severity and improve a person’s mood. Exercise releases endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are chemicals within the brain associated with positive moods and a heightened sense of well-being. Individuals who exercise on a regular basis are less likely to suffer from chronic depression and other related health conditions. Depression can lower a person’s immune response and have an adverse effect on your health outcome.
Does Depression Have a Physical Effect on the Body?
Depression causes chemical responses within the body, which depresses the immune system and makes the body more susceptible to infection and chronic illnesses. When a person is depressed, he or she tends to binge eat for comfort or not eat much at all, causing weight loss and malnutrition; a depressed person is also lacking motivation and stays in a dormant stage physically and mentally, causing a vicious cycle of crumbling physical and mental condition.
Can Depression Be Prevented?
Depression can be prevented to a certain extent. Although certain types of mental illness have been shown to be hereditary, a healthy lifestyle and good social support can often reduce the effects of depression. Your doctor will also prescribe medication to help correct the chemical imbalance which contributes to your depression.
