Yes, Your Mental Health Can Directly Impact Your Physical Well-Being
This is a guest article by Lucy Wyndham.
At present, up to one in every six South Africans is living with a common mental health concern such as stress, anxiety or depression, according to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). Although the stigma attached to poor mental health has been somewhat reduced over recent years, the connection between mental and physical health is still largely misunderstood. They are often envisioned as completely separate entities, when, in fact, they are very closely related. Neglecting your mental health can lead to an array of physical health concerns, including heart disease, a compromised immune system, and high blood pressure.
The heart and mind are closely connected
Your mental health can impact your cardiac health in numerous ways. Stress can increase the risk of a heart attack by increasing blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and inflammation in the body. Additionally, anxiety and depression can increase the chances of sudden cardiac arrest considerably. While your chance to recover from a heart attack is good, sudden cardiac arrest has a much lower survival rate. By identifying any underlying risk factors, including mental health concerns, and dealing with them swiftly and effectively, the risk of sudden cardiac arrest can be decreased.
Stress can weaken your immune system
Although stress can, at times, act as a motivator to get something done, it can also consume you completely. When this happens, it can lead to severe anxiety and depression, which, in turn, can wreak havoc with your immune system. When you are stressed, cortisol is released into the body. In small, infrequent amounts, this can boost your immune system and overall health by reducing inflammation. When your body gets accustomed to high cortisol levels, however, the risk of inflammation increases exponentially. Anxiety and stress also decrease the number of lymphocytes (white blood cells that ward off infection) in the body, making you more prone to illness and infection. By addressing any stress, anxiety and depression concern you have, your immune system will also be given the chance to get stronger and keep you healthy.
Obesity is linked to depression
Depression and obesity are both very heavy burdens to carry, and are often closely linked to one another. If you are obese, you have a 55% chance of becoming anxious or depressed because of it. This happens because people who are obese tend to experience a decrease in self-confidence while shying away from social interaction, which may lead to even more anxiety and depression. When you are living with depression, you have a 58% chance of becoming obese. This is a vicious circle that is often very hard to break, and also one that can lead to serious medical conditions, including diabetes, heart diseases and cancer.
Despite many obvious differences, our mental and physical health have a direct impact on each other. By taking care of your mental health and being proactive about obtaining treatment where needed, you can reduce your risk of contracting various medical conditions considerably.
