Can depression cause other illnesses?

[Picaboii]

I take a mixture of medications for depression but also take meds for high blood pressure and cholesterol and thyroid.  Can my reaction to life (depression/anxiety) be causing these other problems?  If I get the depression under control, do you think these other 3 problems will go away or improve?  

[Jaquta]

I think if we better manage our mood then it is easier to manage other aspects of our life.
It's possible your mental health issues are contributing to your other issues -I think.

Anxiety can cause increases in blood pressure.  I'm not sure how stable that would be though.
Both depression and anxiety can affect appetite.

I really don't know.  Maybe you're predisposed to these conditions.  Genetics may be a factor.  ??

[jimgreg]

yes it can lead to a.of of phiscal problems ..as well as agorphobia..

[Picaboii]

Thanks to all of you for your comments.  Some days I feel so good that I think I can quit all of my meds; today, I feel like I need all of them and more.  Such is life.  

[Paxiled]

I think it's the other way around with the thyroid -- it can cause depression and anxiety.  As to cholesterol, some meds for depression and anxiety cause weight and/or a rise in cholesterol, so there may be a connection there if it wasn't a problem before you went on meds.  Most likely to have all three problems would indicate dietary deficiencies, so that's something you'd want to work on.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

if you get your anxiety and depression under control it may definitely help your blood pressure but probably will not affect your cholesterol or thyroid.