Having bipolar disorder -- a serious mental illness that can cause both manic and depressed moods -- can make life more challenging. It also comes with a higher risk of dying early. Now, a study puts into perspective just how large that risk is, and how it compares with other factors that can shorten life.

In two different groups, people with bipolar disorder were four to six times more likely as people without the condition to die prematurely, the study finds.

By contrast, people who had ever smoked were about twice as likely to die prematurely than those who had never smoked – whether or not they had bipolar disorder.

In the Prechter cohort, people with bipolar disorder were much more likely to have asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, migraines, fibromyalgia and thyroid conditions than those who had not been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Well, fuck. Sorry for the downer, but thought it’s important to share.