Mental illness can have various physical effects, including weight changes, tooth damage, and gastrointestinal problems. Medications used to manage mental illness can also have physical side effects, and poorly managed mental illness can make it difficult to care for oneself. Physical health concerns should be considered when treating mental illness.
The effects of mental illness on health vary widely, depending on the mental illness involved and how it is managed. Mental and physical health are closely linked, and mentally ill people are more at risk of problems such as weight gain or loss, tooth damage and gastrointestinal problems. These problems can be caused by medications, the underlying mental illness, or an inability to properly care for the body due to poorly controlled mental illness or poor living conditions, both of which are potential problems for people with mental illness.
Some drugs used to manage mental illness can have serious physical side effects, and these health effects of mental illness may not resolve when the drugs are stopped. Some examples include tardive dyskenesia, a movement disorder caused by certain psychiatric medications, along with extreme weight gain or loss and other neurological problems. Patients can also develop problems such as gastrointestinal problems caused by prolonged use of medications.
Sometimes people with mental illness have a hard time taking care of themselves. Poorly managed mental illness can make it more difficult to complete daily activities, and mentally ill people are more likely to be unemployed and live in poverty, making it difficult to get regular health care and stick to a health regimen. This can lead to the health effects of mental illness such as poor diet, inadequate dental care, and not getting enough exercise. Alcoholism and its physical health effects are more common in people with mental illness, and substance abuse can also be a problem.
The health effects of mental illness can also include problems such as tooth damage from grinding, anxiety or as a side effect of medications. Patients living in a constant state of stress can develop high blood pressure and heart problems, and people who are institutionalized may not receive adequate physical activity or health care, potentially leading to health problems. Homelessness caused by mental illness can increase physical stress, as well as make it difficult for patients to reliably access health care.
Some mental illnesses include physical expressions of ill health. Patients may self-harm, attempt suicide, or engage in activities such as incessant pacing or exercise, putting stress and damage on the joints. These health effects of mental illness can sometimes be managed with medication and therapy, and in other cases they can only be reduced, but not completely eliminated. Considering physical health concerns when treating and working with patients with mental illness is an important part of providing comprehensive patient care, as a feedback system can develop where poor physical health exacerbates mental illness or vice versa .
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
