The document discusses the importance of physical health for good mental health. It notes that improving diet and exercise can help when taking medications for psychosis, which can cause weight gain for some people. The summary provides tips on eating healthy, being physically active, and getting blood tests and checks on weight, blood pressure, glucose and lipid levels.
The document discusses the importance of physical health for good mental health. It notes that improving diet and exercise can help when taking medications for psychosis, which can cause weight gain for some people. The summary provides tips on eating healthy, being physically active, and getting blood tests and checks on weight, blood pressure, glucose and lipid levels.
The document discusses the importance of physical health for good mental health. It notes that improving diet and exercise can help when taking medications for psychosis, which can cause weight gain for some people. The summary provides tips on eating healthy, being physically active, and getting blood tests and checks on weight, blood pressure, glucose and lipid levels.
The document discusses the importance of physical health for good mental health. It notes that improving diet and exercise can help when taking medications for psychosis, which can cause weight gain for some people. The summary provides tips on eating healthy, being physically active, and getting blood tests and checks on weight, blood pressure, glucose and lipid levels.
Physical health is important for • Ask for help with choosing healthy Weight good mental health. Improving food and doing exercise – tell the Putting on too much weight for some your diet and doing regular people around you so they can help. people can increase the risk of diabetes exercise can help you feel • It also helps to keep an eye on your and heart disease in the future. good, be more confident, and weight and ask your case manager, Blood pressure help your general wellbeing. clinician or doctor to measure your High blood pressure may also Exercise and eating well are weight and height regularly. contribute to the development especially important when taking • If you are worried about weight gain, of heart disease in the future. anti-psychotic medications. talk to your case manager or doctor Medications are important to – one of their roles is to discuss these issues with you, and to keep an eye Further information help you get better, but for some on any changes. For more information about people, they can also have side living a healthy lifestyle: effects, like putting on weight. • Talk to your doctor about getting www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au blood tests and your blood pressure checked regularly. For information on how to get Why do some people taking into a routine of running: medications for psychosis If you are concerned about side effects, www.c25k.com
gain weight? talk with your doctor. There are some For further information regarding mental really easy ways to reduce or manage health, or for information in other There is no one answer, but some side effects. If the side effects are languages, visit: possible reasons are: www.orygen.org.au serious or distressing, and difficult to • The medication can change your www.headspace.org.au manage, your treating team may look www.sane.org appetite, making you feel hungrier at other medication options that may www.healthdirect.gov.au or making it harder to recognise have less side effects. www.oyh.org.au that you’re full. Related factsheets • You may get a dry mouth and feel like drinking more sugary drinks. Improving your diet and Psychosis + Young People Getting help early + Young People • You may exercise less because doing regular exercise can Recovering from psychosis + Young People you feel less energetic. help you feel good, be more Helping someone with psychosis + Young People • The medications might cause confident, and help your Getting active + Young People cravings for fatty and sugary foods. general wellbeing. Sleep + Young People
What do you need to do? Disclaimer: This information is not medical
If you’re worried about the side effects What checks should I have? advice. It is generic and does not take into account your personal circumstances, physical wellbeing, of medication, or notice that you’re Blood tests mental status or mental requirements. Do not gaining weight, here are some things Blood tests look at: use this information to treat or diagnose your you can do to manage these changes: own or another person’s medical condition and • Glucose (sugar) levels – an indicator never ignore medical advice or delay seeking it • Eat healthily and be physically active. of risk of diabetes. because of something in this information. Any • Start thinking about the exercise medical questions should be referred to a qualified • Lipid (fat) levels – such as cholesterol healthcare professional. If in doubt, please always you do and what you eat as soon (high ‘bad’ cholesterol increases the seek medical advice. as possible after starting medication. risk of heart disease and stroke). • Think about where you can make 19886_17_Orygen Studio
useful changes to your routine, such as
taking the stairs, getting off the train a stop early, walking down to the shops.
