The Link Between Mental and Physical Health

As one of the three core pillars of the Introspective Musings community, health has been and will always be top of mind for many of us. Staying healthy for ourselves, our families, and our friends is important for us all.

Much of the content and narrative around health out there is typically focused on only just the physical body. However, as researchers have studied more and more into factors that influence one’s physical health, it’s become apparent that physical health and mental health are closely linked. If one goes out of whack, it’s likely that the individual will suffer on the account of both.

Having said that, it seems like common sense that grasping a better understanding of how our minds and physical bodies work together can help improve our health choices and the sustainability of our health and general wellbeing. So now we’re left wondering:

How exactly are mental and physical health linked?

Relationships Between Mental and Physical Health

For quite a long time, many of us were under the impression that there’s a stark difference between mental and physical health, but the difference actually isn’t as pronounced as we once thought. Researchers have looked into the link between mental and physical health and found that they, directly and indirectly, affect one another.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways our physical bodies and mind influence one another:

Heart Health Coupled with Anxiety and Anger

You’ve seen it in movies where someone’s angry outburst or stress due to anxiety leads to some sort of heart complication. Seems silly, right? Unfortunately, there is some truth to it.

An Australian study conducted in 2015 examined whether acute emotions, such as anger and anxiety, can increase the likelihood of heart attack. The lead author of the study, Dr. Thomas Buckley, noted:

Our findings confirm what has been suggested in prior studies and anecdotal evidence, even in films -- that episodes of intense anger can act as a trigger for a heart attack.

Get this - in the following two hours following an angry outburst, that which was defined as tense body language, clenched fist or teeth, and an urge to emotionally burst, an individual’s risk of experiencing a heart attack was an astounding 8.5 times higher!

When they look at the same case with anxiety instead, the risk of experiencing a heart attack rose a staggering 9.5 times higher. Safe to say that keeping a healthy heart doesn’t just come down to doing cardio or eating oatmeal every day.

Mental Illnesses and Physical Fatigue

Mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders, often come with an onset of a persistent sluggish, tired feeling. Many of us think it’s all in our head and that the 3 PM afternoon slump cup of coffee will solve all our problems. Unfortunately, research does show that it’s not all just in our heads and that mental fatigue does lead to physical fatigue.

Medical News Today has shown that physical fatigue can often show up as a direct symptom following mental illnesses and health problems, such as:

• Stress or grief

• Clinical depression

• Exhaustion and burnout

As a result, it isn’t crazy to say that mental illness is linked with physical fatigue and that feeling tired all the time can lead to a decline in one’s physical health. When someone is depressed or anxious, you often find that they are less likely to want to exercise and quit early when they do attempt to get on an exercise program.

Improving Both Mental and Physical Health

As the two examples above showed, there is an undeniable relationship and link between one’s mental and physical health. While both examples demonstrate the negative relationship that mental and physical health can have on one another, you can make the relationship between the two a positive one.

Here are a couple of tips that can help you make that happen:

• Mental Wellbeing

  • Exercise regularly

    • Regular physical activity has shown to be a great means to reduce both depression and anxiety

  • Get adequate sleep

    • A consistent sleep routine is integral for optimal immune systems and mental acuity

  • Get outside

    • Going for a walk and enjoying the outdoors and nature have been shown to reduce symptoms of depression

  • Embrace that hobby

    • Half of your brain’s cortex is dedicated to your hands so pick up that hands-on hobby to give your brain a workout

• Physical Wellbeing

  • Limit screen time

    • Reducing your screen time can help you stave off a more sedentary lifestyle

  • Nutritious meals

    • Our bodies respond based on the quality of food we feed it so try your hand at some of these healthy options

  • Encourage exercise

    • Getting in even just a quick 10 to 15 minute exercise session through circuits can make all the difference to your heart health

The link between mental and physical health, while it can be complex, is much more intuitive than we once imagined just a couple of years ago. It’s no wonder why we’ve experienced a mental health crisis as an onset to the population’s general deterioration of physical health. But with these newfound insights, I hope that we can all take the knowledge and apply practices to encourage and uplift to both our mental and physical health.

So go out and go for a run, come back home and enjoy a hobby over a nutritious cooked meal, and get a good night’s sleep after the day! While you may feel fatigued or out of place in the short term later the next morning, your mind and body will both thank you for it in the long term. To better days of mental and physical health and wellbeing ahead!

Disclaimer: I am not, nor claim to be, a health professional. Please consult your health physician prior to engaging in any of the suggested activities and/or if you have serious mental or physical ailments to obtain an accurate diagnosis of your health circumstance. I am not liable for any actions taken upon reading this post.

“There’s nothing more important than our good health - that’s our principal capital asset.“ - Arien Specter