What is the difference between mental health and physical health?

Medically Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on March 29, 2021

Although the mind and body are often viewed as being separate, mental and physical health are actually closely related. Good mental health can positively affect your physical health. In return, poor mental health can negatively affect your physical health.

Your mental health plays a huge role in your general well-being. Being in a good mental state can keep you healthy and help prevent serious health conditions. A study found that positive psychological well-being can reduce the risks of heart attacks and strokes.

On the other hand, poor mental health can lead to poor physical health or harmful behaviors.

Chronic diseases. Depression has been linked to many chronic illnesses. These illnesses include diabetes, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and arthritis.

Schizophrenia has also been linked to a higher risk of heart and respiratory diseases.

Mental health conditions can also make dealing with a chronic illness more difficult. The mortality rate from cancer and heart disease is higher among people with depression or other mental health conditions.

‌Sleep problems. People with mental health conditions are more likely to suffer from sleep disorders, like insomnia or sleep apnea. Insomnia can make it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. Sleep apnea leads to breathing problems, which can cause you to wake up frequently.

‌Around 50% to 80% of people with mental health conditions will also have sleeping problems. Only 10% to 18% of the general population experience sleeping problems.

While conditions like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder may lead to sleep problems, sleep problems can also make existing mental health conditions worse.

Smoking. People with mental health conditions are more likely to smoke than those who do not have mental health conditions. Among smokers, people with mental health conditions are more likely to smoke a greater number of cigarettes.

People with depression have lower levels of the chemical dopamine. Dopamine influences positive feelings in your brain. The nicotine in cigarettes triggers the production of the chemical dopamine, so smoking may be used as a way to relieve symptoms of depression.

However, since nicotine only offers temporary relief, you may feel a recurring need to smoke, which may lead to possible addiction.

‌Access to health care. People with mental health conditions are less likely to have access to adequate health care.

It may also be more difficult for people with mental health conditions to take care of their physical health When you have a mental health condition, it can be hard to seek care, take prescriptions regularly, or get enough exercise.

Your physical well-being also has an impact on your mental health. People with physical health conditions may also develop mental health conditions.

Psoriasis is a dermatological condition characterized by painful red sores on the skin. It is associated with acute stress and depression.

Individuals with psoriasis experience emotional and psychological distress that negatively impacts their overall health and quality of life. Stress and depression mainly come from anxiety, stigma, and rejection.

Being diagnosed with cancer or having a heart attack can also lead to feelings of depression or anxiety. Around one-third of people with serious medical conditions will have symptoms of depression, such as low mood, sleep problems, and a loss of interest in activities.

If you want to improve your general well-being, you should take care of both your physical and mental health.

Here are some ways to take care of yourself physically and mentally:

Get regular exercise. Exercise is important for keeping physically fit, but it can also help improve your mood. A daily 10-minute walk may increase your mental alertness leaving you energetic and in a good mood.
Eat a proper diet. A diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in processed sugars or fats can make you feel better physically and mentally. Consider working with a qualified nutritionist to help you create a diet plan customized according to your needs.
Avoid alcohol and drugs. Although drinking and smoking may make you feel better in the short term, they can have a negative effect on both your physical and mental health.
Get enough sleep. A good night’s sleep is around seven to nine hours for adults. You can also take a 30-minute nap during the day to feel more alert.
Try relaxation techniques. Meditation, deep breathing, and focusing your thoughts can all help when you are feeling stressed.
Develop good mental practices. Try to focus on positive emotions and events rather than negative ones.
Seek help from others. Talking with friends or family members can help you feel less stressed. Getting others to help with difficult situations can also reduce the burden you feel.

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What do you think of when you hear the word “health”? Most of our brains automatically think physical health — exercising, healthy eating, drinking water, etc. And while physical health does play a large role in keeping our bodies in shape and functioning properly, our mental health is just as important to maintain to achieve a healthy and happy lifestyle.

The link between mental health and physical health is generally misunderstood because the mind and body are considered two separate entities, but oftentimes these two entities need to work together for our own wellbeing. Our mental health can directly affect our physical health and vice versa. Here’s how.

How Mental Health Can Affect Your Physical Health

About 1 in 5 people in the U.S. struggle with their mental health. Symptoms of poor mental health can include negative thinking, low energy levels, change in mood or behavior, isolation, struggling to cope with stress, changing in sleeping or eating patterns, negative self-talk, and feeling sad or depressed.

If you suffer from any of the symptoms above, it does not mean you have a mental illness. Poor mental health becomes a mental health disorder (mental illness) when your symptoms become frequent and start to affect your ability to physically function in daily life. Some common mental illnesses include:

Anxiety
Depression
Schizophrenia
PTSD
ADHD
Eating Disorders
Bipolar Depression
Addiction

So, how does your mental health affect your physical health? Don’t be fooled by its name. Your mental health can affect more than just your mind, it can also affect your behavior and your body. Poor mental health will not only impact your body’s ability to make healthy decisions, but it can also increase your risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and other health complications like obesity, weakened immune system, and more.

Studies have found that those who suffer from depression bodies show changes in how they function, which could have a serious impact on their physical health. Those changes include:

Increased inflammation
Chronic fatigue
Changes in the control of heart rate and blood circulation
Abnormalities in stress hormones
Insomnia
Metabolic changes such as those seen in people at risk for diabetes

Poor mental health can drain all of your energy and prevent you from working on your physical health, but increasing your activity and working on your physical health can actually improve your mental health.

How Physical Health Can Affect Your Mental Health

Physical health is the state of your physical body and how well it is operating. Ways to maintain your physical health can be broken down into four categories.

Lifestyle – staying active throughout your day, getting enough sleep, drinking water
Diet – eating balanced foods that nourish your body
Hygiene – keeping yourself and your environment clean and kept-up
Exercise – using and strengthening your body and muscles

Working on your physical fitness and health will not only add years to your life, it can also improve your mood and help prevent mental illness. People who are healthy and active feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better, feel more relaxed, and think more positively about themselves and life in general. Living a healthy lifestyle and staying physically active reduces your chance of chronic diseases and conditions, like type 2 diabetes, anxiety, depression, heart disease, cancer, and dementia.

Exercise by itself is a powerful medicine for many common mental health challenges. Studies show that it can treat mild to moderate depression as effectively as antidepressants, reduce the symptoms of ADHD, and work as a treatment for anxiety. That’s because exercising promotes all kinds of changes in the brain, including neural growth, reduced inflammation, and activity patterns that promote feelings of calm and well-being. It also releases the endorphins dopamine and serotonin into your body- which make you feel good and less stressed.

Which Is More Important?

So, which is more important, mental health or physical health? The link between physical and mental health is complex, but the answer is simple your body needs both mental health and physical health to function properly and let you live a happy and healthy life. If you are struggling in one area, you may choose to focus on one over the other and that is okay. Just remember the influence they have on each other and how important it is to keep up with your health both mentally and physically.

Looking for ways to stay healthy and combat stress and anixety? Click here.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, you are not alone. Please reach out to a mental health professional. If you do not feel comfortable speaking to a professional, start by reaching out to a close colleague, family member, or friend.

If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

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