研究表明 低血壓會增加患抑鬱症的風險
Scientists have discovered having low blood pressure could increase the risk of depression by nearly a third.
科學家們於近日發現，低血壓會使患抑鬱的風險增大近三分之一。A study shows patients with lower than normal blood pressure may be 30 per cent more likely to become depressed than those with healthy or even high readings.
據一項研究顯示，相比於健康或更高水平的人來說，血壓低於正常值的人，患抑鬱的可能性要高出30%。The surprising findings, from researchers at Trinity College, Dublin, suggest some cases of depression may be due to reduced blood flow to the brain caused by low blood pressure (or hypotension).
這一令人吃驚的發現是都柏林聖三一學院的研究人員們提出的，他們表示，某些抑鬱病例可能是由低血壓導致大腦供血不足所導致。
If further studies confirm the link, researchers believe it might be possible to treat depressed patients who also have hypotension by increasing their blood pressure.
如果進一步的研究證實了這一關聯，研究人員認爲可以通過提高血壓的方式來治療那些患有抑鬱症和低血壓的病人。The rise in depression diagnoses has led to a massive uptake of drugs such as Prozac, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
抑鬱症的爆發導致了許多新藥物的出現，例如“百憂解”等選擇性5-羥色胺再攝取抑制劑藥物。They are thought to improve mood by raising levels of the 'feel-good' chemical serotonin in the brain.
這些藥物被認爲能夠提高大腦中使人“感覺良好”的化學物質血清素的水平，從而改善人的情緒。
But the discovery that low blood pressure could be linked to depression means patients might in future be able to avoid SSRIs and be given drugs or other strategies for low blood pressure.
但是這一低血壓可能與抑鬱症有關聯的發現表明，抑鬱症病患未來可能不再需要吃這些藥物，而只要採用治療低血壓的藥物和策略就好。These might include drinking more water, eating more salt (because it increases blood pressure by retaining fluid in the body) or taking medicines — such as the steroid fludrocortisone — which also help the body retain fluid.
這些方法可能包括多喝水、多吃鹽（因爲鹽可以通過保持體液來提高血壓）、或者服用有助於保持體液的藥物（諸如類固醇激素皮質醇等等）。Blood pressure is measured by testing systolic pressure (the top reading, which measures the force generated by blood when the heart beats) and diastolic pressure (the force between beats).
血壓是通過測試收縮壓（即最高讀數，測試的是心臟跳動時血液產生的壓力）和舒張壓（兩次心跳間的壓力）來測量的。According to the charity Blood Pressure UK, a healthy reading is around 120/80. Those scoring 140/90 or more are at increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
據慈善機構“英國血壓”表示，健康的血壓應該在120/80左右，140/90以上的人羣患心臟病和中風的風險更大。But the latest study suggests low average readings may be bad news for mental health.
但是這項最新研究表明，低平均讀數對人的心理健康來說可能是個壞消息。
