How does mental health impact physical health?

Our mental health performs a major role in our overall well-being. A stable mental health can keep you healthy and help prevent serious health issues. Research has found that favorable mental well-being can reduce the risks of heart diseases and strokes. On the other hand, mental disorders can lead to many diseases and disorders.

The statistics on mental health affect physical health shows that 37.6% people with severe mental health issues have long-term physical conditions.

In this article, we will discuss how mental health impacts physical health.

The relationship between physical and mental health

Maintaining both our physical and mental health is necessary to keep our-self healthy, but physical and mental health are often talked about as separate entities. In reality, there is a close relationship between physical and mental health, one can affect the other greatly. This relationship can either be positive or negative, depending on the circumstances of an individual.

This relationship can be described as the poor psychological condition can be a risk factor for many chronic diseases. In the same way, people having chronic diseases are at the risk of developing poor psychological health.

 

How does good mental health affect physical health?

 Researchers have found a close link between mental stability and well-being of a person. Good mental health affects physical health in many ways, such as:

 

• Reduced risk for heart diseases
• Control level of sugar
• Lower blood pressure
• Healthier weight
• Longer life

 

Effects of poor mental health on your physical health

 Psychological disability can come with many physical symptoms. Effects of poor mental health on physical health are always negative. Our minds and bodies are not separate. So, it is not surprising that poor mental health leads to physical illnesses. Depression, sometimes, comes with fatigue, digestive problems and headaches. In the same way, anxiety can cause an upset stomach.

Some effects of poor mental health on physical health are described below:

 

1. Fatigue:

Fatigue is a common symptom of psychological problems, such as depression and may be accompanied by other symptoms, including irritability and lack of motivation.

 

2. Weight lose:

Poor mental health affects the formation of stress hormones and the gastrointestinal system, which may lead to changes in appetite and metabolism. Depression can also cause a decrease in appetite that eventually leads to l weight loss. Some people might consider weight loss a positive side effect, but intense weight loss can put your health at risk.

 

3. Sleep Disorders:

People with psychological issues are more likely to have sleep disorders, such as insomnia. Insomnia has many components, including irregular sleep schedule, disrupted sleep quality, and disturbed and poor-quality sleep habits such as naps and caffeine consumption. About 50% to 80% of people having mental illness will have sleeping problems.

 

4. Headache:

One study shows that one out of four adults with depression also suffer from headaches and this directly impacts their overall mental state. The stress, strain, and negative mindset all pile up, making it easy for someone to develop migraines or even a migraine. People who experience headaches also have a higher chance of developing heart conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, or even diabetes. It might sound weird, but bad headaches also affect digestion and cause pain when swallowing.

 

5. Nausea:

Anxiety can cause nausea and other gastrointestinal problems. Outside of your brain, your digestive system contains the 2nd largest number of nerves in your body. Some scientists called the gut “second brain.”

 

6. Anxiety Disorders:

Anxiety is another issue that happens when your mind goes off track. Usually, it results in distress, apprehension, and fear which makes you nervous and tense. Experts believe that 90% of psychological problems occur due to constant worries. What you’re worrying about now might not materialize tomorrow and hence, you might find it challenging to cope with today’s challenges. In these stressful times, it would have been best for you to seek professional treatment rather than fighting back against your thoughts and concerns.

How does mental health affect physical appearance?

 Mental health affects our overall physical appearance. It can cause weight-gain or weight loss and cause many skin issues. Stress can actually lead to rashes, ulcers, psoriasis, eczema and even acne. All these skin problems could be the result of hormonal imbalances. These imbalances take place due to hormonal imbalances, which are caused by increased stress. Therefore, your skin will reflect these imbalances and become inflamed. Once inflamed, your skin can get infected.

 

Impact of mental illness on the quality of your life

 The impact of mental illness on quality of life is negative most of the time. People having poor psychological conditions are reported to have low quality of life. Poor mental health prevents people from doing their many daily tasks. They suffer from low self-esteem or low self-confidence as a result of this.

They will not wash their dishes or clothes. People with psychiatric disability will not clean or wash their hair, causing them to become matted, greasy and tangled. They will not brush their teeth on a regular basis. They do not care about how they smell and don’t wear deodorant. In this way, mental illness leads to poor quality of life.

 

How to take care of both of your mental and physical health:

Here are some tips to take care of your physical and mental well-being:

 

• Exercise regularly

Exercise plays an important role to improve your physical and mental well-being. A daily walk for 10-15 minutes may increase your mental alertness leaving you energetic and in a good mood.

 

• Take a proper diet

A diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in processed sugars or fats are good for your both mental and physical health. Working with a qualified nutritionist helps you to create a diet plan customized according to your needs.

 

• Avoid alcohol and drugs consumption

Drinking and smoking may make you feel better in the short term but they can have a negative effect on both your physical and mental health.

 

• Get enough sleep

A good sleep is between seven to nine hours . You can also take a 30-60 minute nap during the day to feel more alert.

 

• Try relaxation techniques

Meditation, deep breathing, and focusing your thoughts can help when you are feeling stressed.

 

• Develop good mental practices

Try to focus on positive emotions and events rather than negative ones to improve your psychological issues.

 

Summary:

In this article we have discussed all the effects of mental health on physical health. I hope by practicing all the tips that I have given to improve mental and physical health you can attain a healthy lifestyle.