It’s no secret to anyone that your overall health is linked to your emotional state. But do you know that this connection works in the other direction too?

Your emotions can have an effect not only on your social activity and communication, but also on your physical health. 

Here are 5 basic areas where your emotions can impact your health: 

1. Cardiovascular system

A collaborative study by British and Australian researchers has proven that your mental health status can influence the risk of having cardiovascular issues.  

Women with high or very high psychological distress had a 44% higher risk of stroke. And poorly managed or repressed anger is also related to a slew of health conditions, such as hypertension (high blood pressure).

2. Memory and memories

Your emotions affect your ability to remember information and recall past memories. 

The human brain tends to focus on stimuli of emotional significance. We may remember facts which trigger an emotional connection longer than those that don’t. At the same time, our brain can repress the memories of very traumatic events, or those causing distress.

3. Aging 

Our bodies contain an enzyme associated with aging called telomerase. 

Studies by a professor at the University of California, Elissa Epel, show that people with chronic stress in their lives have markedly shortened telomeres. One landmark study found that women with chronic stress aged on average 10 years faster than those who didn’t have any chronic stress. Thus chronic stress can shorten our telomeres, the “end caps” of our DNA strands, which causes us to age more quickly. 

4. Immunity 

A positive attitude can improve your immune system and may help you live longer, according to a University of Queensland study.

Meanwhile, another brain study linked negative emotions to lowered immunity. The study has shown that depressed elderly people have fewer lymphocytes and white blood cells crucial for fighting disease. 

5. Digestive issues

Stressors in your life may lead to digestive discomforts. Yes, stress can affect movement and contractions of the digestive tract, worsen existing inflammations, or even make you more susceptible to infection.

Maintaining a positive attitude and good mood has a significant effect on different areas of your health. Don’t forget to mark your feelings and emotions in the MIA app and take control over them.