Everyone has ups and downs in their moods. Yet, for those suffering from bipolar disorder, mood swings can be severely disruptive to work, relationships and life in general.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, during the lifetime of U.S. adults, nearly 4 percent them will experience bipolar disorder. More than 2 percent suffer from this condition in any given year, and the vast majority of sufferers have severe symptoms.

Bipolar disorder is a disease of brain chemistry resulting in an adverse alteration in mood, energy, activity levels and the ability to function from day to day. The condition has also been known as manic-depressive illness, alluding to the wide shifts in mood that may accompany the disease.

Mania is described as a state of overexcitement and can be characterized by restlessness, distractibility, irritability or impulsiveness. Sufferers may have an emotional high or a “wired” feeling. This may be accompanied by increased goal-oriented behavior, such as taking on new projects or certain risk-taking behaviors such as gambling or high-risk sexual activity.

On the other end of the spectrum, bipolar sufferers may have periods of depression marked by sadness, fatigue, loss of interest in usually enjoyable activities, altered sleep habits and suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

According to diagnostic criteria, there’s many kinds of bipolar disorder. Some people may experience only intervals of manic symptoms. Most commonly, sufferers cycle from periods of mania to periods of intense depression. Depression may be the most common symptom, which can lead to a misdiagnosis of depressive disorders. That can lead to problems because standard depression therapy can actually worsen manic episodes in those with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder may be accompanied by other adverse physical and mental-health conditions. Sufferers may experience anxiety from post-traumatic stress disorder as well as substance-use disorders. They may turn to illicit drugs or alcohol to alleviate symptoms of their disease. This may complicate both diagnosis and treatment of the underlying condition.

Bipolar disorder may coexist with other common medical problems heart disease, diabetes, migraine or thyroid disorders.

In the majority of cases, symptoms of bipolar disorder begin during adolescence or early adulthood, although they are not always recognized. About half of cases begin before age 25. The condition is chronic and may lead to school failure, problems maintaining employment and difficulty maintaining stable relationships. Bipolar sufferers can be at risk of suicide.

There is hope. It begins with recognition of the disease and implementation of effective treatments including medication therapy and mental-health counseling. While there is no cure for bipolar disorder, recent studies have demonstrated symptom control in the majority of patients treated during the first year of therapy.

Bipolar disorder affects not only sufferers but also their family and loved ones. If you think someone you love may have bipolar disorder, encourage him or her to seek help. Never ignore comments about potential self-harm, for which immediate medical care is needed. Educate yourself about the disease, so that you can provide effective support. There are considerable resources available on the National Institute of Mental Health website.

Dr. Matthew A. Clark is a board-certified physician in internal medicine and pediatrics practicing at the Ute Mountain Health Center in Towaoc.