You might be stunned to learn that there is a strong connection between mental and physical health. Being depressed can have a physical impact on you and a negative impact on your quality of life. On the other hand, being happy can have an impact on both your physical and mental health.
According to WHO,
"Health is a complete state of physical, psychological, and social well-being, not simply the absence of disease or infirmity, and mental health is an essential and integral part of human health as a whole."
Relationship of Mental Health to Physical Health
Mental health is important for overall health, and it can be a protective factor against many physical illnesses. Poor mental health can lead to physical health deterioration or exacerbate many diseases. Other notable aspects of the relationship between mental and physical health are as follows:
- Numerous research has linked depression with many chronic diseases such as cancer, asthma, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and diabetes.
- The American Heart Association states that good mental health can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
- Stress hormones (Adrenaline, Noradrenaline, and Corticosteroids) may be primarily responsible for this association.
- Schizophrenia has been associated with a higher risk of heart and respiratory disease, and mental disorders can also make some chronic illnesses challenging to treat.
- Among smokers, people with mental illnesses are likely to smoke more cigarettes.
- According to a Harvard University study, approximately 50 percent to 80 percent of people who suffer from mental disorders also have sleep problems, whereas only 10% of normal people have sleep problems.
To summarize, mental and physical health are two sides of the same coin, and treatments used to treat one may benefit the other.