Mental health and your physical health

But did you know that your mental health and your physical well-being are also strongly connected?

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (2003), mental health conditions may negatively affect your physical health. For example, anxiety and stress are often associated with severe headaches, stomach ulcers, and hypertension. In a 2005 review by Chapman, Perry and Strine, anxiety and stress have also been reported to aggravate asthma symptoms. In addition, excessive stress may heighten the likelihood of developing arthritis, and people who report chronic anxiety are often also at greater risk of developing heart disease. Further, mental health conditions may weaken the immune system, which greatly increases the likelihood of developing chronic physical illnesses.

Likewise, physical illness may have a negative impact on your mental health. According to recent research completed by the University of Washington School of Medicine (2003), patients with chronic physical illness have a high prevalence of major depressive illness. Indeed, patients with cancer, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, and heart disease may experience intensified feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress.