How Does Mental Health Affect Physical Health?

Many people are convinced that the psyche and physicality are separate issues. Nothing could be more wrong, because the human body functions holistically. This means that mind and body are inextricably linked - having physical health problems greatly increases your risk of developing mental health problems, and vice versa. According to research, almost one in three chronically ill people also suffer from mental health issues - most often depression and anxiety.

What is mental health?

According to the World Health Organization: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not just the absence of disease or disability." An important implication of this definition is that mental health is about more than the absence of a mental disorder or disability. Overall, mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual is aware of their own abilities, can cope with daily challenges, and can work efficiently. Mental health is fundamental to our collective and individual ability to think, express emotions, and interact with people. others and enjoy life. Given these values, raising awareness of mental health and implementing measures to protect it can be crucial to the well-being of not only individuals but also the global community. Mental health is an integral and indispensable element of the general condition of a person.

Connection between mental and physical health

There are many links between mental health and chronic physical illness that significantly affect people's quality of life and care needs. The World Health Organization also points out that "there is no health without mental health." This relationship is particularly evident in the field of chronic diseases and manifests itself as follows:

• Issues with the mental health is a risk factor for chronic physical disease.
• People with severe mental health conditions are at high risk of developing chronic physical illness.
• People with chronic physical illnesses are in the risk group for suffering from poor mental health.

How does mental health affect physical health?

People with mental health problems are more likely to develop preventable diseases of the body, according to the Mental Health Foundation. This state of affairs can be due to many factors, such as:

Genetic factors

As with physical diseases, genes may be responsible for mental health issues. Many people are not aware of this, which is why the symptoms of the disease are underestimated for a long time.

Low motivation and difficulty concentrating

Certain mental health issues or mood medications can affect your energy or your motivation to take care of yourself. As a result, symptoms that may raise doubts as to the condition of the body can be ignored. Low motivation and impaired concentration may make it difficult to carry out even the easiest tasks, such as making an appointment for a control visit.

Misinterpretation of symptoms

It may be that the physical symptoms are a characteristic part of the mental illness and may therefore be ignored. As a result, further diagnostics, including e.g., extended laboratory tests, may not be ordered, and thus the developing disease will not be detected at an early stage.

Our bodies and minds cannot function independently, so the fact that mental ill health can impact the body is not surprising. Depression can occur in people who suffer from headache, fatigue, and digestive problems. In turn, the feeling of anxiety may be caused, among others, by digestive issues - loss of appetite, hunger pangs, nausea, etc. Other symptoms may include insomnia, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating.

Mental and physical health - growth of the awareness

Understanding the mind-body relationship is the first step in developing strategies to reduce the incidence of comorbidities and support people already living with mental illness and chronic physical illness. The key aspects of prevention include increasing physical activity and maintaining a balanced diet. An important role is also played by issues resulting from economic and social conditions, such as adequate income and the possibility of participating in social life. Caring for them creates the conditions for reducing the impact of risk factors related to both mental and physical health.