What does Sasha mean? Sasha [sasha] as a girls' name (also used less regularly as boys' name Sasha) is pronounced SAH-shah. It is of Russian and Greek origin, and the meaning of Sasha is man's defender. Short form of Alexander. The -sha ending may not be feminine in Russia, though it is in America. Associated with: russian, greek, defender.
Depression increases your risk of a number of diseases and other conditions by, for example, increasing levels of stress hormones such as cortisol or adrenaline. Depression can affect the immune system, making it harder for your body to fight infection. Vaccinations are even less effective in people with depression.
The result of all of this is increased depression, anxiety, and reduced memory. In mice this effect can take months to reverse. The upshot is that stress, the gut, the brain and the immune system are really intimately linked, and inseparable.