Osteoporosis 'link to depression'

Depression may increase the risk of the bone disorder osteoporosis in premenopausal women, a study suggests.

A US study found 17% of depressed women but just 2% of those not depressed, had thinner bone in a part of the hip.

It found depressed women had overactive immune systems, making too many chemicals that promote inflammation including one that promotes bone loss.

The Archives of Internal Medicine study compared 89 depressed women with 44 non-depressed women, all aged 21 to 45.[read more...]

I was reading this article, when I saw the above picture of a bone wasted away by osteoporosis, and suddenly, I was reminded of Proverbs

Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Personally, I don't think God is trying to command those who have depression to 'snap' out of it - on the contrary, the Bible says that "the LORD is close to the broken-hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

But was thinking about this verse, and I think He wants to exhort the reader who reads this verse to understand the importance of a joyful spirit, a cheerful heart... and to understand the urgency of ministering and healing those who are crushed in spirit.

(I don't think it's merely a broken spirit... rather, a crushed spirit is very, very dangerous, both to the soul and the body.)