Can Mental Health Affect Physical Health?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Research shows that

people with a mental health problem are more likely to have a preventable physical health condition such as heart disease

. This can be for a variety of reasons, including: genetics.

How does mental health affect physical activity?


People who exercise regularly have better mental health and emotional wellbeing, and lower rates of mental illness

. Exercise is important for people with mental illness – it not only boosts our mood, concentration and alertness, but improves our cardiovascular and overall physical health.

Can mental illness cause physical illness?


Mental health and physical health are fundamentally linked

. People living with a serious mental illness are at higher risk of experiencing a wide range of chronic physical conditions.

Can mental health cause physical pain?


Some psychological factors that might cause physical pain include anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, and stress

. What Types of Pain Does It Cause? Just like pain caused by a physical stimulus, psychogenic pain can be acute or chronic. Acute pain is sharp but brief, and usually doesn’t require treatment.

How mental and physical health are linked?

The associations between mental and physical health are:

Poor mental health is a risk factor for chronic physical conditions

. People with serious mental health conditions are at high risk of experiencing chronic physical conditions. People with chronic physical conditions are at risk of developing poor mental health.

Can anxiety cause physical symptoms?

When you are under stress or anxious, this system kicks into action, and

physical symptoms can appear — headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, shakiness, or stomach pain

.

When do mental symptoms become physical?


Somatic symptom disorder

(SSD formerly known as “somatization disorder” or “somatoform disorder”) is a form of mental illness that causes one or more bodily symptoms, including pain.

Why mental and physical health is important?

Why is mental health important for overall health?

Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health

. For example, depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

What are the 5 signs of mental illness?

  • Excessive paranoia, worry, or anxiety.
  • Long-lasting sadness or irritability.
  • Extreme changes in moods.
  • Social withdrawal.
  • Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping pattern.

Does physical and mental health go hand in hand?

The link between mental health and physical health is often misunderstood. They’re often thought of as separate entities, but

the two go hand in hand

. In fact, the World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.

Can depression make your whole body hurt?

Depression is a mood disorder diagnosed by tell-tale symptoms such as fatigue, lethargy, or poor sleep. But

depression may manifest itself in physical aches and pains that offer no obvious cause, such as unexplained chest pain, muscle ache, trembling, or hot flashes

.

Can your mind create symptoms?

So if you’re experiencing unexplained aches and pains, it might be linked to your mental health. According to Carla Manley, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author,

people with mental illnesses can experience a range of physical symptoms, such as muscle tension, pain, headaches, insomnia, and feelings of restlessness.

Can anxiety make your legs feel weird?


It is common for anxiety to cause feelings of numbness and tingling

. This can occur almost anywhere on the body but is most commonly felt on the face, hands, arms, feet and legs. This is caused by the blood rushing to the most important parts of the body that can aide fight or flight.

What illnesses can stress cause?

  • Heart disease. …
  • Asthma. …
  • Obesity. …
  • Diabetes. …
  • Headaches. …
  • Depression and anxiety. …
  • Gastrointestinal problems. …
  • Alzheimer’s disease.

Is when a person has physical symptoms for which there is no physical cause?


Conversion disorder(functional neurological symptom disorder)

is a condition in which the symptoms affect a person’s perception, sensation or movement with no evidence of a physical cause. A person may have numbness, blindness or trouble walking.

What is psychosomatic illness?

Psychosomatic disorder is

a psychological condition that leads to physical symptoms, often without any medical explanation

. It can affect almost any part of the body. People with the disorder tend to seek frequent medical attention, becoming frustrated with no diagnosis.

How mental illness affects a person?

Mental illness is a leading cause of disability.

Untreated mental illness can cause severe emotional, behavioral and physical health problems

. Complications sometimes linked to mental illness include: Unhappiness and decreased enjoyment of life.

Is mental health more important than physical?

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

.

How is mental health different from physical health?

Mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety,

affect your ability to participate in healthy behaviors

. This can result in problems with physical health, such as chronic diseases, and can decrease a person’s ability to participate in treatment and recovery.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.