Do You Have Bipolar Disorder? Physical Health Effects You Should Know About
If you have been diagnosed with the mental health disorder known as bipolar disorder (sometimes referred to as manic depression), then you likely know and understand all of the effects that the condition has on your mood and overall mental health. However, what you may not know is that having bipolar disorder can also have a strong impact on your physical health and well-being. It is important to know and understand some of the physical health effects that bipolar disorder can have so that you are able to better take care of yourself both physically and mentally moving forward.
Sleep Disorders
One of the most common physical issues for people with bipolar disorder is trouble maintaining normal sleeping patterns. Sleep disorders in people with bipolar can take many forms and may vary depending on if the person is experiencing mania, hypomania, or a depressive period. The exact sleep problem will also vary depending on the unique individual.
Sleeping for excessive amounts of time and being unable to make it through the day without naps can be one sleep issue for people with bipolar, particularly because the medications most often used to treat the condition can cause fatigue and drowsiness. Alternatively, many patients with bipolar disorder also experience insomnia and may struggle to fall or stay asleep at night.
Treatment for sleep disorders in connection with bipolar can vary. If the person is sleeping too much, their bipolar medications might be adjusted to lower the dose (or change medications entirely) so the person can better function normally. On the other hand, if they sleep too little or have trouble falling asleep, prescription sleeping medications may be prescribed.
High Blood Pressure
When a person has bipolar disorder, most people think that the issues the disorder causes are entirely mental. Even sleep disorders could be thought to be mental in nature (though they are also physical). However, there are effects of this disorder that are purely physical in nature. One such issue is that of high blood pressure.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is extremely common in people suffering from bipolar disorder. In fact, one study found that almost half of the patients that are hospitalized for the bipolar disorder also suffer from high blood pressure.
Chronic high blood pressure can be a serious condition and because of this, if you have high blood pressure and bipolar disorder, it is important to seek out the care of your primary care doctor as well as a cardiologist as soon as possible. Hypertension can cause severe damage to your heart and your arteries and can even lead to stroke or heart attack if not properly treated.
Now that you know a few of the possible physical health effects of your bipolar disorder, you can be sure that you are doing everything in your power to preserve your health and get the care you need to do so. Contact medical help, such as at Temecula Valley Cardiology, for more help.
