Slowly but surely, society has started to recognize the value of mental health. As a result, this has led to substantial discoveries in the field, one of these being mental health’s relationship to our physical well-being. Prioritizing your mental health can be one of the most essential aspects to ensure your quality of life, and understanding the physical effects of mental health can highlight its importance and help you be your best self!
Physical Side Effects of Mental Health Conditions
Mental health conditions can often extend beyond the emotional realm, manifesting in a variety of physical effects. Some examples of mental health conditions and their side effects are as follows:
Anxiety – An incredibly common condition that results in several physical side effects. Depending on the severity, some of these include an irregular heartbeat, trembling, stomachache, insomnia, dry mouth, excessive sweating, and etcetera.
Depression – Another relatively common mental health condition, in which side effects such as largely decreased energy level, possible development of eating disorders, issues surrounding too little sleep, or excessive sleep, are the most common.
Bipolar Disorder – Side effects often resemble depression symptoms, causing similar negative impacts. However, bipolar disorder can also lead to the possibility of manic episodes, which can result in hallucinations and increased risk of self-harm.
Eating Disorders – These disorders, unfortunately, are a perfect [AT4] example of how your physical health can be impacted via a mental health condition[AT5] . Side effects include substantial undereating/overeating, and this can lead to anorexia, bulimia, obesity, and general function impairment.
Mental Health’s Impact on Chronic Conditions
Diabetes – Significant risk factors for diabetes come largely from two mental health conditions, that being depression and schizophrenia. Anti-psychosis medications have been shown to significantly impact weight gain, so if you are diagnosed with any of these conditions, make sure to consider the relationship between these factors and watch your health carefully.
Heart Disease – There are a variety of different mental health conditions [AT7] [DT8] that vastly increase your stress hormones, and as a result, this can develop abnormal rhythms in the heart. Other mental health condition medications have also shown a link to similar abnormalities related to the heart.
Arthritis – Due to some medication having anti-inflammatory properties (primarily anti-psychosis medication), some people living with mental health conditions have shown to have a decreased rate of arthritis.
Respiratory Problems – Studies have shown that those suffering from any generic respiratory condition are more likely on average to have a mental health condition as well. Three out of four people with these respiratory issues on average have either anxiety or depression. The practices and self-care associated with these conditions can occasionally lead to panic and/or asthma attacks as a result.
How Tria Can Help –
Tria Health takes a personalized, hands-on approach to improving your overall well-being, focusing on sustainable changes to manage mental health and chronic conditions. Tria Health is a benefit available through select employer health plans and provides a convenient resource for any questions regarding your health. For those concerned about managing their mental health, or other specific conditions, Tria Health offers access to expert pharmacists who can provide specialized advice on how various treatments and strategies can fit into your everyday life.
Questions?
For any questions related to your mental health, chronic condition(s), or medications, you can reach out to the Tria Health Desk at 913-322-8456.
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