Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is a state of full physical, mental and social health without limitations. Different definitions have been applied to the concept of health throughout the years. A social definition defines health as a condition of well-being shared by individuals and families. According to this view, health is important for all of us, because it helps us avoid risks and survive crises. We become healthy when we are at our best.
We all want to be healthy but most people do not even realize the important role that lifestyle plays in our health status. It is through a combination of healthy diet and regular exercise that can help us maintain our current state of health and avoid potential threats to our future health. However, people today lead very busy lives that may hinder them from having the time to engage in these regular exercises. Stress and other related factors also take their toll on our health status. In such a scenario, it is important that we identify these health conditions and understand how they affect our lifestyle.
One of the many factors that can affect our state of health is our lifestyle, or more specifically our diet and the level of physical activity. Studies have shown that an unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle are one of the major contributing factors to the rise in chronic diseases. Chronic diseases include heart diseases, diabetes, cancer, and stroke. High levels of stress are also associated with poor health status.
There are many ways we can improve our lifestyle choices and make better food choices to achieve good health. The first step is to identify what your personal goals are. For some, weight loss is a major goal since obesity is one of the leading causes of illness. Other goals might include stopping smoking, reducing our risk for heart disease, and increasing our physical activity. This will help you focus on making lifestyle choices to improve your overall health.
The second step is to evaluate your personal circumstances. Are you under a lot of stress due to work or family responsibilities? If so, it may be time to consider professional help. Counseling sessions are a good starting point as they aim to improve overall mental and physical health through changing behaviour and attitudes. A change in lifestyle might also be necessary if you feel as though you are not physically active enough. Finally, the need for social interaction could be improved through joining a gym, walking more or taking part in recreational activities.
Finally, identifying how your health differs from that of others can also help you identify your particular health problems. For instance, obese people often have a greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Being overweight or obese is associated with a host of other physical problems, including a higher risk of joint diseases, sleep apnea and high blood pressure. Similarly, a lack of exercise or physical fitness could exacerbate existing physical deficiencies, such as diabetes and osteoporosis. It is therefore important to improve your general health and fitness levels and tackle the lifestyle factors that are causing you harm.