We are constantly being reminded to look at our mental health and to think about how we can improve our moods. Writing down what you’re grateful for, getting regular exercise, and eating healthier meals – these can all make you feel much happier and help you to handle negative situations.
However, it’s not just your moods that your mental health can affect. By improving your mental health, you may also see several physical health benefits, making it all the more worth it to work on it.
Promote healthy hair growth
Hair loss is incredibly common among men. The American Hair Loss Association estimates that, by the age of 35, two-thirds of American men will have experienced some form of hair loss. The organisation also says that this figure increases to 85% of men by the age of 50.
For many men, hair loss is just a part of the ageing process and it’s something that just happens. This is true but hair loss can be made much worse by stress. Severe stress interrupts the growth cycle of your hair and can leave you with bald patches. Hair loss caused by stress is often temporary meaning that by reducing your stress, you can grow that hair back.
Fewer breakouts
Another thing that many people experience is breakouts. Grown adults are still prone to acne breakouts even after they are well past the age of puberty and stress can lead to cold sore breakouts too. The problem is so prevalent that e-Surgery, a sustainable online prescription service and pharmacy, now offers treatment for acne and cold sores to address these breakouts. The online prescription company says that the duration of a cold sore can be decreased by 30% with medication.’
While a prescription is one route, you can also work to reduce the frequency of breakouts (acne and cold sores) by improving your mental health. This is because the body releases hormones to combat stress and, if your body is stressed a lot and this hormone is released frequently, it can lead to skin conditions like acne.
You’ll sleep better
According to the National Sleep Foundation, 35% of Americans would describe their sleep quality as poor or only fair. Meanwhile, 67% of those who described their sleep quality in this way also said that they had poor or only fair health. Around 27% of those who said that their sleep quality was poor or only fair said that they had good health.
While a lack of good sleep can be because of several factors, stress is one of the biggest ones. If you are stressed and you toss and turn all night, then going to bed at a reasonable time won’t make you feel rested. You may still wake up feeling tired. However, learning to relax and reduce your stress will help you to get a better night’s sleep.
Improving your mental health may not seem that important but these health benefits show that it is. So, take the steps to work on it.
Robert Haynes did his degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. He is interested in mental health and well-being.
