It’s important to get a good understanding of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and what areas are not within the purview of a healthy lifestyle. Healthy living may entail a variety of methods for staying healthy. A good place to start is with a broad definition in mind that includes sustaining a reasonable balance between psychological, physical, and emotional health. Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is “an environment that provides an optimum level of physical, mental, and social well being for an individual.” A number of definitions have also been used over the years for various purposes.
The concept of wellness has become much more complex as advances in medical research and knowledge have affected the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. While some people may associate wellness with disease prevention, it is also important to realize that wellness can take many forms. In essence, this definition now encompasses a combination of factors including both mental and physical aspects of well-being. For example, people who are diagnosed with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, generally fall short of the recommended levels of physical activity, exercise, and diet, which can have significant impacts on their overall health and the prevention of disease. Conversely, a person who is physically active and eats a balanced diet may be at a higher risk for the development of cardiovascular diseases and can experience a reduction in well-being if they have developed such diseases previously.
Although many people may focus primarily on the physical aspects of wellness, it is important to note that both physiological and emotional health play a vital role in one’s overall well being. It is important to pay attention to both aspects as they can play different roles in the prevention and treatment of disease. Similarly, it is important to realize that there can be a difference in the manifestations of physical and emotional illness. As such, paying attention to both the mental and emotional aspects of well being can help identify and treat those conditions earlier on.