Our mental health and physical health are very closely related, even though generally they are considered as two different things. With great mental health comes great physical health. On the other hand, poor mental health can take a major toll on your physical health.
What Are The Effects of Mental Health On Physical Health?
Your overall health depends heavily on your mental health. Being mentally healthy helps you in many ways. It not only keeps you healthy but also protects you from severe health issues. Good mental health reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
With poor mental health, you are more prone to a variety of diseases and harmful behaviors. The following are the health issues that can arise due to poor mental health.
Sleeping Disorders
People with mental health disorders are at more risk of falling prey to sleep-related conditions such as sleep apnea, insomnia, etc. Sleep apnea causes problems in breathing when you are asleep. It makes you wake frequently resulting in disturbed sleep. Insomnia does not let you sleep or allow continuous sleep.
Currently, nearly 50 to 80 percent of people suffering from mental health issues also face sleeping disorders. As long as general people are concerned, only 10 to 18 percent of people suffer from such health problems.
While mental health issues like bipolar disorder, anxiety, or depression can lead to sleeping disorders, not getting proper sleep can worsen mental health.
Chronic Diseases
Many chronic illnesses are strongly connected with poor mental health. The following are examples of such chronic diseases:
● Arthritis
● Cancer
● Cardiovascular issues
● Asthma
● Diabetes
Apart from these, Schizophrenia can lead to respiratory system and heart diseases. When mental health conditions and chronic illnesses come together, dealing with bad health gets even more difficult. Depression or other mental health patients have a higher mortality rate from heart diseases and cancer.
Access To Health Care
Most mental health patients do not get proper access to much-needed health care. They often struggle to maintain their physical health, follow the medications as prescribed, get enough exercise, and even seek care.
Smoking
People with mental health conditions are more likely to get addicted to smoking as compared to those with good mental health. Poor mental health can cause people to have more cigarettes than normal smokers.
People with depression rely on cigarettes to ease the symptoms. As they have low levels of dopamine, they need cigarettes to boost the production of the chemical dopamine in their brain. Dopamine is the chemical present in our brain that naturally influences positivity and happiness in us.
Get Help Before It’s Too Late
Unfortunately, most mental health patients seek help from reputable adult mental health services only after they face some kind of crisis. Based on the reports of a study conducted by Columbia University Medical Center in 2016, less than one-third of depression patients in the United States received treatment for depression.
Getting professional help earlier can protect you from mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and more. If you are suffering from a mental health disorder, we recommend getting in touch with a top-rated Orange County Mental Health Center. While regular exercise and eating the right food can help relieve the symptoms of mental health conditions, some patients may need counseling or medication. You have to partner with a mental health expert to know what type of treatment will be the best for you.
How To Take Care Of Mental Health?
In general, if you have to stay fit, taking care of both mental health and physical health is essential. Here’s how you do that:
Maintain a Proper Diet Routine
Eat food that is rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein, and avoid food that has processed sugars and fats to ensure good mental and physical health. You can contact a renowned nutritionist to develop a diet plan that is tailored to your specific needs.
Get Proper Sleep
Poor sleep leads to anxiety, depression, and stress. The national sleep foundation recommends around 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night to stay healthy. If you struggle to sleep properly, you can follow the below-mentioned steps:
● Avoid screens before going to bed
● Reduce your caffeine intake
● Develop a bedtime routine
● Relax before going to bed
Exercise Regularly
Exercising has many benefits for our bodies. It not only keeps us physically fit but also improves our mood. Even a 10-minute walk or jog every morning can keep you energized and in a great mood throughout the day.
Addiction
The road to good mental health can be difficult when addiction is prevalent. For many, this path is made difficult by stigma, fear, and a lack of adequate therapy. When a person has a substance use disorder (SUD), it has an impact on their physical and mental health. This effect can intensify pre-existing emotional issues while also reducing therapy effectiveness. The Waismann Method, for example, specializes in offering efficient medical detoxification procedures that are personalized to the health needs of each individual. Its treatment begins with a thorough medical examination to assist distinguish between distinct substance use disorder symptoms and other illnesses. A quadruple board-certified medical doctor with over 21 years of experience in medically assisted detoxification and rapid detox treatments performs the medical detox.
Final Thoughts
Taking care of mental health can do wonders in the long run. Your mental health dictates the way you lead your life and conduct your everyday routine. Failing to look after your mental health can cause health conditions related to your physical and emotional health. For this reason, never underestimate it! If you or someone you love is experiencing any type of mental health issue, contact professionals as soon as possible to prevent further damage.
