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Which is more important to you, physical or mental health? You would be shocked to know that most Americans support both health aspects equally. The recent polling study conducted by Research America yielded varying responses from different individuals; 89% of the respondents reported that both physical health and mental health are of equal value, 6% of the respondents denoted that physical health is more important than mental health, and the remaining 5% of the respondents thought that mental health is more important (Research America, 2022). In the discourse of health, the debate of whether physical health outdoes mental health or otherwise is still argumentative. Therefore, while the determinants of both cannot be ignored, this paper opposes the idea that physical or mental health is more important because the two are interlinked.
Importance of Physical Health
The most important building block for happiness is physical well-being, frequently described through terms like body fitness and energy. It includes factors like nutrition, exercise, and periodic medical examinations. Physical health’s importance is unquestionable, as it directly impacts one’s ability to function well generally (Dhuli et al., 2022). A properly functioning body allows people to move freely, fight diseases effectively, and prolong their lives. On the other hand, physical fitness brings confidence and self-esteem, which are the key components of mental health.
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It's an old cliche that mental health means the absence of mental illness; modern science defines it as a state of psychological flourishing. It combines all the psychological aspects: emotional resilience, cognitive functions, and effective stress management (Fusar-Poli et al., 2020). Doing so, in turn, impacts how people interact with their family, friends, colleagues, and even society. Failure to address your mental health may result in an assortment of issues, such as panic disorders, depression, and addiction, which negatively impact how you live your life.
The Interrelationship between Physical and Mental Health
Instead of being opposed to each other, physical and emotional health should be regarded as mutual contributors. Many studies have proved the case of mutuality in physical and mental domains. Citing an example, exercise not only boosts physical fitness but also relieves symptoms of anxiety and depression by encouraging endorphins release, the neurotransmitters involved in the self-regulation of mood (Mahindru et al., 2023). Also, constant stress, as well as unresolved traumas, can lead to physical symptoms like hypertension and a weak immune system. Moreover, social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status, healthcare access, and social support networks, equally impact physical and mental health. The likelihood of suffering equally from physical and mental health inequalities is higher for people who are economically disadvantaged or isolated socially. Consequently, eliminating both mental and physical health imbalances and disorders must be comprehensive since it considers that factors are interlinked.
Striving for Balance: Pursuing an All-Inclusive Approach
Rather than favoring one definition of health more than the other, an all-inclusive approach acknowledges the complex interplay between physical and mental wellness. Establishing a balanced life includes dedicating your time to your body and mind by doing the necessary practices and making the right lifestyle choices (Doan et al., 2022). This includes regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, good quality sleep, and simple stress management skills like meditation and mindfulness. Besides this, spreading knowledge about mental health and diminishing prejudice concerning mental illness are very important things that should be done to create a culture of physical and mental health. Educating people about the significance of getting help for mental health issues and making mental health services available can be a major factor in enhancing the individual’s ability to focus on maintaining psychological health.
Conclusion
Therefore, this paper opposes the idea that physical or mental health is more important because the two are interlinked. The disagreement on whether physical health beats mental health amplifies the complexity of the health picture. The connection between the physical and the mental state determines the principles of the person's wellness, contributing to an all-inclusive perspective. It is not a matter of one being more important than the other but of understanding and recognizing the mutual relationship between physical and mental health, thus striving to promote balance by addressing the root causes of poor health. An integrated approach is the only one that enables people to achieve true physical, spiritual, and social health and well-being.
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- Dhuli, K., Naureen, Z., Medori, M. C., Fioretti, F., Caruso, P., Perrone, M. A., Nodari, S., Manganotti, P., Xhufi, S., Bushati, M., Bozo, D., Connelly, S. T., Herbst, K. L., & Bertelli, M. (2022). Physical activity for health. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, 63(2 Suppl 3), E150–E159. https://doi.org/10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2022.63.2S3.2756
- Doan, T., Ha, V., Strazdins, L., & Chateau, D. (2022). Healthy minds live in healthy bodies – effect of physical health on mental health: Evidence from Australian longitudinal data. Current Psychology, 42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03053-7
- Fusar-Poli, P., Salazar de Pablo, G., De Micheli, A., Nieman, D. H., Correll, C. U., Kessing, L. V., Pfennig, A., Bechdolf, A., Borgwardt, S., Arango, C., & Van Amelsvoort, T. (2020). What is good mental health? A scoping review. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 31(31), 33–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.12.105
- Mahindru, A., Patil, P., & Agrawal, V. (2023). Role of Physical Activity on Mental Health and Well-Being: a Review. Cureus, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.33475
- Research America. (2022). Physical and Mental Health Are Equally Important to Americans. https://www.researchamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/poll2006mentalhealth-1.pdf
