Are Mental and Physical Health Related?

By Murilo Lima, M.D.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states it like this: “Health is a state of complete mental, physical, and social well-being and not merely the absence of infirmity.”

Mental and physical health are very closely related. Mental health plays a role in a person’s ability to maintain good physical health, and a person’s physical health affects his or her mental health. They are interconnected in a variety of ways, so as we look at ways to stay healthy mentally, we are also looking at ways to improve our physical health as well.

Let’s look at some of the ways that our body and our mind are influenced by the same things.

Nutrition
What we eat plays a key role in both our physical and mental well-being. Diet influences a variety of aspects of our physical health, such as weight, physical activity, and the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes. It is also a proven factor in mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. A diet that includes adequate nutrients will decrease deficiencies that cause these conditions. Our food choices impact our mood, which impacts our desire to make healthy lifestyle choices in future foods and in physical activity. It is a never-ending cycle.

Sleep
When our minds are deprived of sleep, it affects our body and our mind. Sleep is your mind and your body’s time to rest. Getting proper sleep is like filling your car with gas. Without proper sleep our mind and body begin to slow and are unable to do much physically or to process our thoughts and emotions properly. That’s why when we are tired and someone cuts in front of us in line at the grocery store, we get all bent out of shape and react in ways that are just “not like us”. We feel lethargic and run down both physically and mentally.

Hydration
The human brain is made up of about 73% water. All of our organs need water to function properly, but an organ that is made up of that much water is seriously impacted by our water intake. Our physical health is impacted as well as our mental health. Dehydration has been linked to a number of mental issues. Among them are anxiety and depression, as well as dementia. Drinking water can affect your brain in ways that then impact your physical health. Dehydration can lead to brain fog and even dizziness. A person experiencing these symptoms isn’t likely to get up and get moving much at all. It’s another ugly cycle.

Exercise
Physical activity is good for your body and your mind. It doesn’t require gym memberships or going to CrossFit. Exercise, even moderate exercise like taking a walk, releases chemicals in the brain that boost your mood, increase your self-esteem, help you concentrate, make you sleep better and make you feel better in general. Being active relieves stress and metal fatigue. It can give you a sense of accomplishment and leave you feeling more motivated. As an added bonus, it is usually fun to participate in a physical activity!

Hormones
Hormones are chemicals that live in our bodies as part of our endocrine system. They communicate between cells and different parts of the body. Each has a specific function and chemical formula. They affect most parts of our body and their functions. Sleep, memory, growth, metabolism, reproduction, cognition, body temperature, and mood are all affected by our hormones. When our hormones get out of whack (for any number of reasons), we are impacted physically and mentally. That is why it is important to keep a close eye on them when we are feeling “off”, either mentally or physically.

In summary, this is a short list of ways we are affected both mentally and physically by forces in and outside of our body. What we put into our body matters. What we do with our body matters. Taking care of our physical health impacts our mental health and our physical health. They cannot be separated. So next time you are feeling down, check your diet, your sleep routine, drink some water, and go for a brisk walk. If none of those things helps you to feel better, it may be time to ask your doctor to do some tests on your hormone levels. It is all interconnected.

If you are experiencing a mental health problem, it’s essential to talk with your primary care doctor about treating any symptoms you experience — and just as important to prevent or manage symptoms by taking good care of yourself. It is also important to have a doctor who takes the time to listen to your comments and discusses your overall health. At Lima MD Direct Primary Care & MedSpa, we offer a revolutionary concept to put patients and doctors in charge of their health…NOT insurance companies. Direct Primary Care is the single best alternative to regular “fee per care” medicine. It is a medical practice that does not deal with insurance companies, and focuses on providing convenient, affordable and the highest quality medical care directly to patients without any third parties being involved.

The contract of care is straight between the patient and the doctor. Transparency is key. The high quality, evidence-based medicine will be provided to you directly by a board-certified PHYSICIAN (Dr. Murilo Lima), at an affordable cost. The low monthly membership fee will include virtually unlimited access to your doctor for all your medically related needs.

Be mindful that Direct Primary Care is not a health insurance. Our patients are strongly encouraged to acquire a “catastrophic” high deductible health insurance for hospitalizations and emergencies. Come talk to us at Lima MD Direct Primary Care & MedSpa or visit our website for more information about our membership plans.

LimaMD

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