Health is the level of
functional and/or metabolic efficiency of an organism at
both the micro (cellular) and macro (social) level. In the
medical field, health is commonly defined as an organism's
ability to efficiently respond to challenges (stressors) and
effectively restore and sustain a "state of balance," known
as homeostasis.
Another widely accepted definition of health is that of the
World Health Organization (WHO), which states that "health
is a state of complete physical, mental and social
well-being and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity"[1]. In more recent years, this statement has been
modified to include the ability to lead a "socially and
economically productive life." The WHO definition is not
without criticism, as some argue that health cannot be
defined as a state at all, but must be seen as a process of
continuous adjustment to the changing demands of living and
of the changing meanings we give to life. The WHO definition
is therefore considered by many as an idealistic goal rather
than a realistic proposition.
The LaLonde report suggested that there are four general
determinants of health which he called "human biology",
"environment", "lifestyle", and "healthcare organization"[2]
Thus, health is maintained through the science and practice
of medicine, but can also be improved by individual effort.
Physical fitness, weight loss, a healthy diet, stress
management training and stopping smoking and other substance
abuse are examples of steps to improve one's health.
Workplace programs are recognized by an increasingly large
number of companies for their value in improving health and
well-being of their employees, and increasing morale,
loyalty and productivity at work. A company may provide a
gym with exercise equipment, start smoking cessation
programs, provide nutrition, weight or stress management
training. Other programs may include health risk
assessments, health screenings and body mass index
monitoring.
An increasing measure of the health of populations is
height, which is strongly regulated by nutrition and health
care, among other standard of living and quality of life
matters. The study of human growth, its regulators and its
implications is known as auxology.
Wellness is a term sometimes used to describe the
psychological state of being healthy, but is most often used
in the field of alternative medicine to describe one's state
of being.
Exercise
U.S. Marine emerges from the water upon completing the
swimming portion of a triathlon. Physical exercise is the
performance of some activity in order to develop or maintain
physical fitness and overall health. It is often directed
toward also honing athletic ability or skill. Frequent and
regular physical exercise is an important component in the
prevention of some of the diseases of affluence such as
cancer, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Type 2
diabetes, obesity and back pain.
Exercises are generally grouped into three types depending
on the overall effect they have on the human body:
♦ Flexibility exercises such as stretching improve the range
of motion of muscles and joints.
♦ Aerobic exercises such as walking and running focus on
increasing cardiovascular endurance.
♦ Anaerobic exercises such as weight training or sprinting
increase short-term muscle strength.
Physical exercise is considered important for maintaining
physical fitness including healthy weight; building and
maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and joints; promoting
physiological well-being; reducing surgical risks; and
strengthening the immune system.
Proper nutrition is just, if not more as important to health
as exercise. When exercising it becomes even more important
to have good diet to ensure the body has the correct ratio
of macronutrients whilst providing ample micronutrients;
this is to aid the body with the recovery process following
strenuous exercise. When the body falls short of proper
nutrition, it gets into starvation mode developed through
evolution and depends onto fat content for survival.
Research suggest that the production of thyroid hormones can
be negatively affected by repeated bouts of dieting and
calorie restriction[3]. Proper rest and recovery is also as
important to health as exercise, otherwise the body exists
in a permanently injured state and will not improve or adapt
adequately to the exercise.
The above two factors can be compromised by psychological
compulsions (eating disorders such as exercise bulimia,
anorexia, and other bulimias), misinformation, a lack of
organization, or a lack of motivation. These all lead to a
decreased state of health.
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness can occur after any exercise,
particularly if the body is in an unconditioned state
relative to that exercise.
Nutrition
The updated USDA food pyramid, published in 2005, is a
general nutrition guide for recommended food
consumption.Nutrition is a science which studies the
relationship between diet and states of health and disease.
Dieticians are Health professionals who are specialized in
this area of expertise. They are also the only highly
trained health professionals able to provide safe,
evidence-based and accurate dietary advice and
interventions.
Between extremes of optimal health and death from starvation
or malnutrition, there is an array of disease states that
can be caused or alleviated by changes in diet.
Deficiencies, excesses and imbalances in diet can produce
negative impacts on health, which may lead to diseases such
as scurvy, obesity or osteoporosis, as well as psychological
and behavioral problems. Moreover, excessive ingestion of
elements that have no apparent role in health, (e.g. lead,
mercury, PCBs, dioxins), may incur toxic and potentially
lethal effects, depending on the dose. The science of
nutrition attempts to understand how and why specific
dietary aspects influence health.
Mental health
Mental health is a concept that refers to a human
individual's emotional and psychological well-being.
Merriam-Webster defines mental health as "A state of
emotional and psychological well-being in which an
individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional
capabilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary
demands of everyday life."
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is
no one "official" definition of mental health. Cultural
differences, subjective assessments, and competing
professional theories all affect how "mental health" is
defined. In general, most experts agree that "mental health"
and "mental illness" are not opposites. In other words, the
absence of a recognized mental disorder is not necessarily
an indicator of mental health.
One way to think about mental health is by looking at how
effectively and successfully a person functions. Feeling
capable and competent; being able to handle normal levels of
stress, maintain satisfying relationships, and lead an
independent life; and being able to "bounce back," or
recover from difficult situations, are all signs of mental
health.
Health encompasses your emotional, social, and—most
importantly—your mental well-being; All these
aspects—emotional, physical, and social—must function
together to achieve overall health. |
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