The stiffness, swelling and joint pain caused by diseases such as arthritis have a direct impact on patients’ well-being. I’m sure you are aware of the physical challenges this poses for people, but have you considered how it can affect mental health? In this article, we want to talk about this interesting aspect that is almost always overlooked. Join us!
What is the relationship between osteoarthritis and mental health?
Physical health cannot be understood without mental health. The two parts form a whole, so when one of them suffers, it is very common that you begin to notice changes in the other. In the case of joint diseases, this is evident.
First of all, we must talk about rheumatoid arthritis. One of the effects of this autoimmune pathology is chronic inflammation, which not only affects the joints, but also the skin, eyes, lungs and brain. All this gives rise to what is known as mental fog.
This concept refers to the sensation experienced by people that makes them unable to think clearly, concentrate or remember things. According to Medical News Todaybetween 38% and 71% of rheumatoid arthritis patients are affected by some form of cognitive impairment.
What about depression? Current studies are not yet able to determine precisely the connection between the two diseases. However, it is clear that there is a link between them. In fact, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1 in 5 adults with arthritis in the U.S. has symptoms of anxiety or depression. In addition, both can feed back on each other due to various factors such as those presented below.
Pain as a trigger
Arthritis, by causing chronic joint pain, can become a trigger for the development of depression. The persistence of constant discomfort, together with the helplessness felt at the loss of joint function, contributes to a very negative emotional state.
Impact on quality of life
The loss of the ability to perform daily activities, limited mobility and constant physical discomfort can lead to a diminished quality of life. This negative impact on daily routine and personal autonomy leads to feelings of frustration, helplessness and hopelessness, factors that are closely related to depression.
What is it like to live with arthritis and depression?
The approach to treating these diseases must be comprehensive. Otherwise, it is all too easy to fall into a vicious cycle, as shown by a 2017 study in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. Depression can influence the perception of pain and intensifies the feeling of physical discomfort. In turn, constant pain manages to aggravate depressive symptoms, creating a dynamic where both aspects feed back on each other.
Therefore, if you do not treat depression along with arthritis or osteoarthritis, the consequences to which you expose yourself are as follows:
- More pain.
- Reduced efficacy of arthritis treatments.
- Loss of motivation to take care of health.
- Inability to cope with daily life.
- Increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Decrease in productivity.
- Deterioration of social relationships.
- Sexual dysfunction.
Tips and recommendations
At this point, we want to share with you some guidelines that may help you if you are going through this situation. Take note.
- Get a diagnosis. If you think you may be suffering from depression, the first thing you should do is seek medical help. Most people affected by mental health problems go untreated because they don’t have a diagnosis.
- Get regular physical activity. Exercise is not only good for physical health, but has a direct impact on mental health. Try to do an activity that keeps you active in your daily life and, if possible, allows you to be in contact with nature.
- Employ stress management techniques. Pressure is something that, unfortunately, we have to live with in our day-to-day lives. Whether at work or at home, it is important that you apply certain tools that allow you to release stress so that it does not become a problem.
- Seek out friends and support groups. Finding people who are going through what you are going through can be a great source of motivation and support. No one knows the challenges of these two diseases better than they do.
If you’ve made it this far, we hope this article has helped you better understand the internal struggle that joint pain patients face. Is this your case? Then we encourage you to seek the help you need to soothe the pain and all that goes with it. Remember that you can rely on Phytogen Medical Foods to do so, visit our online store!
