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The Connection Between Mental and Physical Health, Why Both Matter

By: | Tags: , , | May 22nd, 2025

For decades, healthcare systems and society at large have treated mental and physical health as separate entities. Physical symptoms were managed by doctors, while emotional and psychological concerns were often sidelined or stigmatized. However, modern science and a growing understanding of whole-person wellness have begun to bridge this divide. Today, we know that mental and physical health are deeply interconnected, and maintaining both is essential for overall wellness.

Historically, the healthcare field treated mental and physical health through different lenses. Mental health concerns were often marginalized, misunderstood, or addressed only in crisis. Meanwhile, physical illnesses receive more structured attention, insurance coverage, and treatment protocols. This divided approach failed to recognize the connection between the two.

There’s a growing recognition that treating only one aspect of health while ignoring the other is insufficient. With perspective changing, medical professionals now understand that physical and mental health directly impact one another. As a result, many practices are beginning to integrate mental health screenings, behavioral interventions, and lifestyle coaching into primary care.

Holistic health is built on the premise that our mind and body function as a unified system. When mental health is compromised, the body suffers. Chronic stress, anxiety, and depression can lead to a wide range of physiological problems. Stress hormones like cortisol can suppress immune function, disrupt sleep, increase blood pressure, and contribute to inflammation. Anxiety can exacerbate gut issues, while depression may lead to fatigue and a weakened immune response. Additionally, poor mental health often impacts behaviors such as sleep hygiene, nutrition, and physical activity—further undermining physical well-being.

Just as mental health affects the body, physical health conditions can deeply affect mental well-being. People living with chronic pain, cancer, autoimmune diseases, or heart conditions often experience heightened rates of depression, anxiety, and social isolation. The emotional toll of a diagnosis, coupled with lifestyle changes or limited mobility, can severely impact one’s quality of life. Conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes are frequently accompanied by mental health challenges, which, if left unaddressed, can complicate recovery.

When mental and physical health are addressed together, long-term outcomes improve. Patients are more likely to adhere to treatment plans, recover faster, and experience a higher quality of life. This integrated approach leads to reduced stigma around mental health, sending the message that emotional wellness is just as important as physical wellness. Regular checkups with primary care providers and mental health professionals are essential, not just for treating illnesses, but for preventing them as well. Embracing integrated care models can provide a comprehensive support system. Telehealth has unlocked new potential for addressing mental and physical health while simultaneously empowering patients to remain involved in their care from any setting. This increased accessibility is especially helpful for those managing chronic conditions, mental health concerns, or mobility issues.

Prioritizing both mental and physical wellness will help ensure enhanced quality of life.  Whether you are managing a chronic illness, navigating a stressful life experience, or simply striving for wellness, your mind and body deserve equal care.  It’s time to raise awareness and support for those seeking wellness and encourage everyone to embrace healthy habits, seek help when needed, and foster environments that promote balance and resilience for both mind and body. By normalizing conversations around the connection between mental and physical health, we can build a more compassionate, informed, and empowered community where well-being is truly valued.

Nattasha Acevedo, MD

Dr. Acevedo received her medical degree from the Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico and did her neurology residency at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. She went on to do a clinical neurophysiology fellowship at Emory School of Medicine in Atla nta, Georgia and then joined private practice in Fort Myers, Florida. She currently resides in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She likes running, paddle boarding and spending time with family.
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Bernadette Borte, MD

Dr. Borte received her medical degree from St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine in Grand Cayman. She completed her neurology residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa. Her areas of interest include inpatient neurology and acute stroke. When not working, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family. Dr. Borte joined the TeleSpecialist family in March of 2019.
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Mazen Almidani, MD

Dr. Almidani is board certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics and board certified in epilepsy, as well as neurology with special  qualification in child neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.  Dr. Almidani is happily married with 4 children. His oldest son has autism and his daughter has complicated seizures; both were a drive for him to become a neurologist. Dr. Almidani enjoys soccer, running and spending time with his family. He is very involved with his sons’ therapy and helping with daily challenges. He is double board certified in Pediatric and Adult Neurology and Epilepsy. He sees children and adults. He also participates in charities for children in Syria who may be underprivileged and/or affected by the war. Dr. Almidani joined TeleSpecialists in August 2020.
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Amanda Cheshire, MD

Dr. Cheshire received her medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, Kentucky. She completed her neurology residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. She did a fellowship in neurophysiology at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Cheshire is double board certified in neurology and clinical neurophysiology. She enjoys traveling, reading and music. She currently resides in Viera, Florida.  Dr. Cheshire joined TeleSpecialists in June 2019.
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Jessica Floyd, MD

Dr. Floyd completed her neurology residency at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida followed by fellowship training in clinical neurophysiology with focus in EEG and epilepsy at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. She has particular interest in hospital neurology and patient education as well as the blossoming specialty of lifestyle medicine. She strives to take advantage of every encounter with patients and medical staff to empower them to do their own research into how daily thoughts, choices, and habits can add up to create greater and longer-lasting brain and neurologic health for ourselves and our loved ones. She lives in Florence, South Carolina with her awesome husband of 13 plus years and three beautiful children. She is an avid yogi, astrologer, and lover of food and all things neurology! Dr. Floyd joined the TeleSpecialist family in July 2017.
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Nancy Futrell, MD

Dr. Futrell received her medical degree from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. She also did her neurology residency at the University of Utah as well as a research fellowship in cerebral vascular disease at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. She currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has authored 2 books and 50 peer reviewed papers. 
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Rebecca Jimenez-Sanders, MD

Dr. Jimenez Sanders received her undergraduate degree from Emory University, and her medical degree from the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine in Puerto Rico. She completed her neurology residency at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, where she also did a specialized headache medicine and facial pain fellowship. She currently resides in Tampa, Florida with her husband and her two daughters. She is also fluent in Spanish and Italian languages, and enjoys photography, baking, boating, and biking.
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Cory Lamar, MD

Dr. Lamar received his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. He completed his internship and residency at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Following residency, he completed a clinical fellowship in neurophysiology, with a concentration in epilepsy. He currently resides in Florida and enjoys outdoor activities.
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Clifford Meyers, MD

Dr. Meyers received his medical degree from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and his MBA from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. He completed his neurology residency at the University of Rochester, where he also did a neurophysiology fellowship. Dr. Meyers resides in Webster, New York with his wife and daughter. When not doing teleneurology, he enjoys playing sports with his wife and daughter.
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Tao Tong, MD

Dr. Tong received her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. She completed her neurology residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, where she also did a neuromuscular/EMG fellowship.  She currently resides in College Station, Texas. Dr. Tong is married with two boys. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and reading.
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Shubhangi Chumble, MD

Dr. Chumble attended BJ Medical School. She is a board certified neurologist with a subspeciality interest in sleep medicine. Dr. Chumble did her residency at Howard University in Washington DC and has practiced neurology since 2001 in private and corporate settings. She lives in Melbourne, Florida and loves the sunshine state. Her hobbies include yoga, meditation, cooking , traveling and meeting new people. She also loves to do stained glass, pottery and painting. She joined TeleSpecialists in June 2019.
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