Health is a condition of mental, physical and emotional well-being where infirmity and illness are absent. It is a broad concept that has been used over the years for many different applications. Mental health, as the name suggests, pertains to your mental well-being; while the physical aspect deals with the body and the functioning of the organs within it.
The definition of good health encompasses aspects of the total personality including resilience, self-control, assertiveness, empathy, and spirituality. A good example would be your ability to adapt to changes, balancing work and home, balancing relationships, maintaining physical and mental health, and your overall health. These are some of the most important factors in determining one’s mental and physical well-being.
In addition, some other determinants that are key in determining the health status include the following: age, culture, sex, genetics, social environment, and lifestyle choices. It has been established that there are some distinct determinants that lead to good health and these are generally lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol use, and sedentary lifestyle. It has also been found that your genetic predisposition to certain diseases can be influenced by some environmental factors such as stress, poor nutrition, and nutritional deficiencies. This means that you may need to modify your lifestyle choices in order to improve your health status.
Another important aspect is diet and its role in shaping your health. While stress is considered to be a causative factor in a number of diseases, certain diseases that are related to stress are associated with an unhealthy diet. An example of a stress-related problem is obesity, which is more prevalent in developed countries than in less developed countries. Hence, it is imperative that we modify our diets in order to maintain a healthy weight and avoid the development of these illnesses.
In relation to occupational health, it is essential for every worker to be physically active, free from back and leg pains, and well rested. This is because poorly nourished and stressed out workers are more likely to suffer from various diseases such as heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer, and diabetes. In order to protect their physical health, organizations should provide adequate and safe working environments. For this purpose, occupational safety programs were introduced so that workers are protected from harm and are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyle practices.
Our mental health and physical health are determined by our family environment and the way we perceive ourselves. However, this is not always easy to attain as it requires a lot of conscious effort. However, if we are able to instill a positive approach to life in our children at an early age, they would be able to adopt a healthy attitude towards life themselves. This will enable them to lead a healthy and productive life in the future. If we take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health through adequate education, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and a healthy lifestyle, we are sure to live a long and happy life.