Health Risk Factors and Wellness Issues
Health is a condition of physical, mental and emotional well-being where infirmity and illness are absent. Different types of definitions have been employed over the years for different purposes. One of them is that health is the condition of living comfortably with your body and mind in its best possible condition. It also includes physiological health, which includes the health of the organs, muscles and other internal systems of the body. These systems are part of the body’s immune system, which fights against diseases and infections.
The purpose of health is to promote longevity and improve quality of life. Therefore, it is said to be a state of total well being. Wellness involves having positive social environments, physical activities, and having an overall physical and mental health. Health can also be influenced by the physical environment and the types of food and beverages one consumes, the exercise one takes and the social environment one finds oneself in.
One needs to keep in mind that all the components of health and wellness are interrelated and interconnected. Therefore, it means that when one manages to achieve good health and well-being, the other components of wellness will also be achieved. There are some general factors that affect health and wellness. They are psychological and social factors such as self-image, stress levels, beliefs and attitudes towards health and physical activity.
These components are interrelated and dependent upon each other. There are many elements that contribute to our physical and mental health status. These factors include our genetic make-up, our lifestyle, our emotions and our surroundings. Our genes specify the makeup of our bodies, and they determine our physical traits and attributes. Our body is affected by our genes and our environment. In this way, we can say that genetics and environment are both important elements in determining the outcome of a person’s health status.
The elements of the social environment and psychology also affect the physical wellness and illness of a person. A person who lives in a socially stigmatized or unhealthy neighborhood is more likely to get sick or have a physical illness. This is because they have low self-esteem and low confidence. A person who lives in a healthy neighborhood and is confident of his or her social capabilities is more likely to avoid health risks or acquire good health status.
With the increasing complexities of life, we need to address the various factors that determine the wellness and illness of a person. There is no single universal approach to health issues and their management. Rather, we need to address the issues individually. We can develop comprehensive plans for achieving a balanced lifestyle by integrating a balanced approach to health care, physical fitness, mental health, appropriate nutrition and drug and alcohol abuse prevention and treatment.
