We often consider mind and body to be separate entities, but the truth is quite the opposite. When it comes to mind and body, both are connected in ways we can’t comprehend sometimes. Our mental state and psychological well-being directly impact our physical health. A person who wants to look after their physical health must also be mindful of their mental well-being. As people who suffer from mental health complications also develop physical health problems. So, in this article, we point out four ways mental health impacts physical health.
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Respiratory Disorders:
It’s common for people with poor mental health to develop different chronic respiratory conditions. Some common respiratory disorders in people suffering from poor mental health are chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma. Research shows that three out of four people with severe COPD also experience depression or anxiety. Smoking is one of the risk factors leading to such problems. And it’s common for people having poor mental health to indulge in harmful addictive habits like smoking, which ultimately leads to respiratory disorders.
Cigarettes have nicotine, which helps produce the body’s happy chemical, “dopamine.” As depressive people want to escape reality, feel happy and relieve depression, they often smoke. That’s why people with mental health issues like depression tend to smoke more cigarettes than others. The recurring craving for nicotine leads to smoking addiction. If you are suffering from mental health problems, it’s wise to consult a psychologist before they manifest into physical problems.
A psychologist will help you overcome your mental health problems and save you from developing physical conditions. Psychologists have advanced educational qualifications, and nowadays, they can even earn an online applied psychology degree from reputable institutions, which enables them to combine theory with practice, so you can rest assured that going to a psychologist will be the best decision.
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Sleep Disorders:
The role that sound sleep plays in one’s mental and physical health can never be overstated. The thing about sleep is that it has a two-way link with health. When you are not fine mentally or even physically, it will directly affect your ability to have a good sleep. And when you don’t get a night of good quality sleep, it further worsens your mental and physical well-being.
At the same time, if you are in good health but do not take care of your sleeping pattern, your poor sleeping schedule will soon cause mental and physical health problems. Thus, a good sleeping schedule and sound mental and physical health all go hand in hand. One cannot exist without the other. When a person is suffering from chronic stress or depression, it makes falling asleep difficult for that person. And when a person does not get enough or good quality sleep at night, it negatively impacts their physical health. After a poor night’s sleep, a person is more likely to make poor food choices, have poor focus, experience headaches, etc.
People with mental health issues are extremely prone to developing sleep apnea and insomnia. Sleep apnea is when a person wakes up frequently during the night due to breathing problems. And insomnia is when a person has difficulty falling asleep, even when they are tired and want to sleep. Either of these conditions causes exhaustion and greatly affects one’s physical health.
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Diabetes:
Diabetes is a common illness that people with mental health disorders suffer from. The common risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes are schizophrenia and depression, thus making it common among people with mental illnesses. Other risk factors of diabetes, like high cholesterol levels and obesity, are also very common in people with poor mental health.
Antipsychotic medications that are usually given to people suffering from mental health complications result in weight gain, which puts the people taking those medications at a higher risk of developing diabetes. The obesity rate is 3.5 times higher in people with mental illnesses than in the general population. On the flip side, those who have diabetes have almost twice the rate of diagnosed mental illnesses. Studies show that 40% of people who have diabetes also show symptoms of anxiety. This is because diabetic people go through a lot of emotional stress that degrades their mental health greatly.
Thus, poor mental health co-exists with diabetes and if it is left untreated, then a person’s both physical and mental health is at significant risk due to increased blood sugar levels.
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Tiredness and Exhaustion:
People who have sound mental health feel active and energetic. On the other hand, those who have poor mental health always feel exhausted and fatigued. Mood disorders, depression, stress, and anxiety all lead to constant feelings of tiredness and exhaustion. People often wrongfully state “it is all in your head” when in reality, if you feel tired mentally, you will end up feeling tired physically.
A study explored two different groups of people and examined them during a given activity. Among the two groups, the one that was asked to do a mental challenge before performing the physical activity reported getting tired and reaching the point of exhaustion 15% earlier. Different studies reveal that when people use their mental energy, they do not perform well in physical activities. When a person is chronically stressed or depressed, they do not have much energy left for physical activities like exercise, etc., and when they do engage in any activity, they give up early as they get tired.
Being stressed or anxious consumes most of a person’s energy, and they feel constantly tired. Furthermore, the fatigue that results from mental illness also comes in the way of self-care and personal hygiene, which puts a person at risk of other chronic diseases as well. For instance, a study shows that depression suppresses the T cell response in a person’s body, which affects their immune system negatively. This means falling sick easily and often and feeling weak and tired.
Conclusion:
Your new year’s resolutions must surely involve taking care of your physical health. While achieving that goal, do not forget to look after your mental health. Mental health directly influences your physical health. If you are mentally strong, then you will have sound physical health too, and vice versa. Always remember that to be in your best physical form, you need to be in your best mental state first.
