The Importance of Wellness

Health is a condition of mental, physical and social well-being where infirmity and disease are absent. Over the centuries different definitions have also been applied for different purposes. Today the definition of health has become much more complex with reference to issues like gender, culture, ethnic groups, and age. It has also come to encompass concepts that were not thought to be related to one another such as spirituality and education.

Health professionals now include a wide range of perspectives when defining health. For example, some consider it to be complete physical well-being with no emotional or mental health issues. This definition excludes those who are diagnosed with a psychiatric illness or who are otherwise suffering from mental disease or disability. However, it also includes dogs who suffer from anxiety, depression or other behavior problems that do not meet standard behavioral standards. In this way, it is possible to think of wellness as encompassing a complete range of solutions and treatments that address both the physical and psychological aspects of health.

To some, health and wellness mean physical health. A well-balanced diet, sufficient sleep and exercise, and a healthy body weight are all indicators of good health. A person with a low body weight, however, is likely to be overweight or obese, and could have many other underlying health concerns.

Similarly, healthy behaviors like regular exercise and a balanced diet contribute to good health. Regular physical activity keeps the heart healthy and increases stamina. Exercises help increase joint flexibility and strength and also improve mood and energy. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, soy products and lean protein, combined with adequate water consumption, helps maintain optimal physical function.

Mental health, on the other hand, refers to the ability to cope with challenges and to cope with life’s ups and downs. It also involves having the capacity to learn from experience, taking advantage of opportunities, understanding and accepting differences, making creative solutions to problems, and having a capacity for living and experiencing life in all its dimensions. Mental health is related to physical health and vice versa. A physically fit person is mentally healthy, a thin person is mentally poor and vice versa.

Environmental factors are those that influence the physical surroundings. They affect both our physical environment and our mental environment. For instance, heavy metals found in indoor air pollution can cause severe brain damage. Similarly, the stress we encounter in our day-to-day lives can adversely affect our physical health and affect our brain function. It has been found that genetic factors, such as sex, race, early childhood development and family history, play important roles in shaping an individual’s physical and/or mental health.