How is Your Physical Health Connected to Your Mental Health?

You’ve probably wondered whether there is any connection between your physical health and your mental health and the other way around. Some of us assume that the two are separate from one another but it is not so. According to the World Health Organization, the health of a person is not just the absence of disease or even infirmity, but it also encompasses a person’s complete mental, physical, and social well-being. Here’s how your physical health is connected to your mental health.

Hydration

We all drink water on a daily basis since we need it to stay hydrated. But only a handful of individuals know the correlation between hydration and mental health. If you haven’t been drinking water that much, you might have noticed that your energy level has gone down, you become irritable at times, and you can hardly think straight too. If you are not properly hydrated, your ability to concentrate, stay alert, and even recall certain events or memories may be hampered which is why you need to hydrate yourself frequently.

Sleep

How else is your physical health and mental health connected? It appears that when you are not getting enough sleep, your mental faculties can be hampered as well. Although this connection is still being explored, studies show that those who are able to sleep soundly have better cognitive function the following day. There are several sleep disorders that can affect your sleep such as insomnia sleep apnea, ADHD, and even bipolar disorder too just to name a few.

Nutrition

Eating is part and parcel of our day to day lives. The food that we eat not only helps us stay energized throughout the day, but it is also necessary for your mental health. You see, the food that we eat can also play a part in our mental function, cognitive behavior, an even regulation of our moods. Studies show that the increase of consumption of processed foods have affected a person’s mental health since there is huge decrease in nutrient consumption. You need to take this into account when you are into balancing your mental and physical health.

Illness

Another connection between your physical and mental health can be clearly seen when you are ill. If you are suffering from short-term illness, it can cause other mental health issues such as anger, shock, regret, and even sadness too. When these feelings are not addressed as soon as possible, it can lead to further mental breakdown which can also affect your physical condition. It is a vicious cycle and one that can be broken if we take care of our physical health all the time.

Exercise

Doing physical activity has always been linked to better mental function such as less anxiety and depression, you become more alert, and able to recall memories better. One reason behind this is that there is more oxygen getting through your brain thus making it more efficient in recalling data and other information. If you are feeling blue, working out can actually make you feel better because physical activity can increase the brains norepinephrine, dopamine, as well as serotonin levels too. Even 30 minutes worth of exercise can have a huge impact to your mental health which is why doctors are suggesting that we workout as much as possible.

Social well-being

Did you know that the better your social well-being is, the better your mental and physical health will be? If you have a supportive circle of family and friends, you won’t have to worry about any mental or physical problems because the two are connected to one another. If you tend to be a loner, your mental state can be affected which can lead to reduced physical health.

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