Being healthy is a good balance and combination of mental, physical, social, financial and spiritual well being.
In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health with a phrase that is still used today. “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
More recently, with new diseases like SARS and Corona Virus cropping up, researchers define health as the ability of the body to adapt to new threats. They base this on the idea that modern science has dramatically increased human awareness of diseases.
Mental and physical health is the two most commonly discussed types of health. A person in the pink of health is due to lack of disease, but also due to regular exercise, balanced nutrition and adequate rest. We receive treatment, when necessary to maintain the balance.
Physical wellbeing involves pursuing a healthful lifestyle to decrease the risk of disease. Maintaining physical fitness, for example, can protect us from lifestyle diseases. Aerobic exercise develops our endurance of a person’s breathing capacity and muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition.
Mental health
Mental health is a much used word this century. It takes care of a person’s emotional, social, and psychological wellbeing. Mental health is as important as physical health to lead a full and active lifestyle.
It is harder to define mental health as compared to physical health, because, in many cases, diagnosis depends on the individual’s perception of their experience. We all need to work towards maintaining our mental health by learning to be positive, surrounding ourselves with good friends, spending quality time with family and achieving a balance in life.
Physical and mental health is linked. If chronic illness affects a person’s ability to complete their regular tasks, this may lead to depression and stress, for example, due to money problems. Depression or any other mental illness can affect one’s weight and endocrine functions.
There are other factors like the financial health of a person and emotional and spiritual health. Health depends on a wide range of factors.
A person is born with a range of genes, and in some people, an unusual genetic pattern can lead to a less-than-optimum level of health.
Environmental factors play a role. Climate change, pollution, and other environmental issues can impact our health. Wrong food habits, junk food, contaminated water, consumption of tobacco cal also affect our health in the long term.
