Lymphatic System & Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) is one of the four major mental illnesses (schizophrenia, schizoaffective and major depression). It is characterized by mood swings from depression to mania, an elevated mood. It affects millions of Americans and typically does not manifest until the late teens to up to 40 years of age. Bipolar disorder can be difficult to live with for many. Although treatable, it has no cure and it is believed to have multiple causes.

The Lymphatic System

• According to lymphonation.org, the "lymphatic system consists of organs, ducts, and nodes. It transports a watery clear fluid called lymph.This fluid distributes immune cells and other factors throughout the body."

Bipolar Disorder

• Healthychoice.com states that bipolar disorder is mostly believed to have a number of causes as opposed to one. Most likely, it stems from a combination of biologic, genetic, and environmental factors, which make the disorder hard to diagnose and incurable.

Endocrine

• The lymphatic system is part of the endocrine glands which secrete hormones on which the brain as well as the rest of the body relies. It is connected to the central nervous system by the thalamus located in the brain.

Thyroid

• The endocrine and lymphatic system involve the thyroid, which is thought to affect mood. When thyroid level is low, it results in a down mood; when it is high it results in elevated mood.

Tips

• Bipolar disorder is linked to an interruption in the lymphatic system. However, researchers have not determined whether endocrine dysfunction is a cause of bipolar disorder or a result. For now, most medical regiments consist of psychotropic drugs, such as mood stabilizers and anti-psychotics, which attempt to effect the patient's hormones and neurotransmitters.