When Mental Health Neglects Physical Health: The Risks Involved and Here’s why

<p><a href="https://mentalhealthtraining.info/health-and-wellness/mental-health-2" target="_blank"><b>When Mental Health Neglects Physical Health: The Risks Involved, And Here’s Why?</b></a></p> <p>A new study by a King’s College London team confirms an association between psychological and physical health. People with mental illness age faster and die younger compared to their peers. </p> <p>The potential impact of illnesses like <a href="https://mentalhealthtraining.info/mental-health/anxiety/five-signs-that-you-are-experiencing-an-anxiety-attack" target="_blank">anxiety</a>, depression and <a href="https://mentalhealthtraining.info/course/bipolar-disorder" target="_blank">bipolar disorder</a> on conditions like stroke, heart attack and cancer is often underestimated. The association exists across the spectrum, with the most powerful effects in those with more serious mental illnesses.</p> <p>According to a review in 2018 by Public Health England, people with more severe mental illnesses die earlier than the rest of the population. Suicide remains the single most prominent cause of these premature deaths.</p> <p>But around two-thirds are due to largely preventable physical conditions, including early heart attacks and strokes. Anyone under 75 who has ever had contact with NHS mental health services is likelier to suffer from poor physical health, including liver, lung, heart and cancer.</p> <p>A combination of factors contributes to this relationship. Symptoms such as breast lumps and rectal bleeding may be missed or ignored while blood pressure readings go unchecked. Weight gain and unhealthy habits such as drinking, drug abuse and smoking become common as trips to the gym and healthy eating are not prioritised. Medication and the impact of mental illness on how individuals are investigated and treated also play a role.</p> <p>People with serious mental illness may be up to three times more likely to have high blood pressure and twice as likely to be obese or have type 2 diabetes. All of which have