Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is a state of full physical, emotional and social well being and not just the absence of illness and infirmity. A wide variety of definitions have previously been used for various purposes. Some of them are even centuries old. Others, however, are based on recent findings and observation of today’s lifestyle and environment.
According to recent studies, physical well-being has a lot to do with psychological well-being. The two go hand in hand. When people are healthy emotionally, they tend to be mentally healthy as well. The definition of “well-being” states that it is the ability to enjoy one’s life without feeling burdened, depressed, anxious or physically ill. Emotional well-being is the result of one’s own inner happiness and does not depend on external sources such as the material world.
The concept of wellness has several facets, including its relation to the concept of disease. Disease, it turns out, is just an expression of poor health. While it is true that people who are more likely to contract disease are at greater risk for acquiring a serious illness, there is a link between the concepts of wellness and disease. People who are healthy are also at a lesser risk for developing more serious illnesses like cancer and heart disease. This shows that being healthy is one of the keys to being at a higher level of health, and lower risk for developing some illnesses.
Poor physical health and good mental health are, however, different things altogether. The absence of any physical illness does not guarantee a person to be mentally sound. Mental health is likewise not only absence from illness but the result of a person’s capacity to function normally in the face of adversity and stress. Mental health may also refer to the quality of life as manifested by the person’s enjoyment and capacity to cope with his or her environment.
Many people today seem to be more preoccupied with being healthy than with getting treated for the various diseases. This is unfortunate since getting the proper treatment for these diseases are essential to their survival. A good number of studies have shown that the mortality rate of patients with heart disease and other diseases are greatly reduced when patients to engage in regular physical activity. In fact, being physically active is actually a major preventive factor in combating heart disease. Studies have also shown that regular physical activity prevents the onset and development of several forms of cancer.
Physical activity is not only important in the prevention of these diseases but is also necessary in managing the disease and preventing the development of some forms of cancer. It is therefore necessary for people to take up physical activities as part of their lives in general in order to promote good health. Health management and public health experts have long recommended that people should make an effort to take part in regular exercises on a daily basis.