Depression is associated with an increased frequency of smoking. Depression is a risk of dying as much as smoking, according to a new study.

This study is the largest one (61, 349 surveyed subjects) which for the first time investigated the association between depression and mortality. At the end of the investigation, the researchers came to the amazing conclusion that depression was comparable in strength to tobacco use as a risk factor for depression.

They found also that depression had this strong junction with mortality even when taking health status and other contradicting factors into account. And the depression did not have to be at a difficult level in order to be bound with mortality at the same strength as smoking. After controlling for physical symptoms and diagnosed health conditions, and after adjusting for age, sex, alcohol problems, educational level, socioeconomic status, body mass index, and blood pressure, and cholesterol level, depression was strongly and inexplicably associated with mortality.

Even taking other possible frustrating factors into account, researchers estimated that depression can account for a 40% increase in the risk of mortality. Depression is often not taken as seriously as other illnesses and is under cured. However, research has now firmly established that depression is a disease influencing not just the brain but multiple systems in the body such as the heart, blood vessels, and bones.

Discussing is often an essential part of depression treatment. Many supplementary integrative treatment options for depression exist, including dietary therapy, lifestyle modification, nutritional supplements, botanical supplements, antidepressant medications, and acupuncture.

Seattle is home to a crowd of naturopathic physicians and other integrative practitioners who use these and other natural, alternative, and integrative treatments either as fundamental therapy for depression or in combination with psychological counseling and medication. Individuals with underlying or current depressive symptoms are more likely to experience mood disturbances when they attempt to quit smoking, concluded researchers.