The Fifth (And Final) Pillar of Good Health
Thus far we have covered four of the Pillars of Good Health, and now it is time to discuss our final Pillar. The first four Pillars pertained primarily to our physical health however today's topic will focus on the mental side of our health.
When the majority of the population thinks of the word "health" we often only consider the components of the physical aspect of it. Very few conversations even begin to discuss the impact that our mental health has on our overall well-being.
In the office this week alone, I have had several conversations with patients about the impact that our mental health has on the physical pain that we experience. Many people are unaware of the intricate connections between our brain and our body, especially when it comes to pain. Did you know that emotional pain and physical pain are processed in the same centers of the brain? So when we are coping with emotional pain we become more likely to experience physical pain.
This is only one aspect of how our mental health impacts our physical health. Many studies have found that our mental health can be linked to hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Other studies have linked depression to the incidence of many chronic illnesses, including diabetes, cancer, asthma, and arthritis. Our mental health is much more than just any potential mental illness, but it involves how we cope with stress, how we interact with others, and how we make choices.
Think of mental health as how we think, feel, and act.
What can you do to improve your mental health? (This list may sound a little like our Pillars of Health...)
- Get Regular Exercise
- Get Consistent Sleep
- Embrace Meditation
- Volunteer to Help Others
- If Necessary, Seek Professional Help
This is the final piece of our 5 Pillars of Health series. I hope that you have enjoyed them, and that they have been helpful. Next week, we will wrap this series up!
Have a great weekend!
Thus far we have covered four of the Pillars of Good Health, and now it is time to discuss our final Pillar. The first four Pillars pertained primarily to our physical health however today's topic will focus on the mental side of our health.
When the majority of the population thinks of the word "health" we often only consider the components of the physical aspect of it. Very few conversations even begin to discuss the impact that our mental health has on our overall well-being.
In the office this week alone, I have had several conversations with patients about the impact that our mental health has on the physical pain that we experience. Many people are unaware of the intricate connections between our brain and our body, especially when it comes to pain. Did you know that emotional pain and physical pain are processed in the same centers of the brain? So when we are coping with emotional pain we become more likely to experience physical pain.
This is only one aspect of how our mental health impacts our physical health. Many studies have found that our mental health can be linked to hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Other studies have linked depression to the incidence of many chronic illnesses, including diabetes, cancer, asthma, and arthritis. Our mental health is much more than just any potential mental illness, but it involves how we cope with stress, how we interact with others, and how we make choices.
Think of mental health as how we think, feel, and act.
What can you do to improve your mental health? (This list may sound a little like our Pillars of Health...)
- Get Regular Exercise
- Get Consistent Sleep
- Embrace Meditation
- Volunteer to Help Others
- If Necessary, Seek Professional Help
This is the final piece of our 5 Pillars of Health series. I hope that you have enjoyed them, and that they have been helpful. Next week, we will wrap this series up!
Have a great weekend!
Movement is my medicine,
