Health and Wellness by Nimmyel Cherish Manya

Health and wellness are terms that are often interchanged but their origins and meanings are different. As established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the 1940,health is referred to as “a state of complete, Physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Although this definition has been criticized for being overly unattainable especially as it relates to the word ”complete” very importantly it broadens the medical definition of health beyond the simple absence of disease.

You may be surprised by the definition of wellness. Although variously defined depending on the context, according to the National Wellness Institute, wellness is considered “an active process through which people become aware and choices towards a more successful existence.

In understanding the difference between health and wellness. It should be stated that health is a state of wellbeing whereas wellness is the state of living an healthy lifestyle. Health refers to physical, mental and social wellbeing whereas wellness aims to enhance wellbeing. You truly cannot have health without first achieving wellness. Wellness has a direct influence on the overall health which is essential for a happy and fulfilled life.

You can consciously chose wellness by living your life responsibly and taking proactive steps for wellbeing whereas health comprises diagnosis of disease/illness, predisposition to a disease and any unexpected injury. Wellness is an active process of growth and change to reach your fullest health and wellbeing. It is associated with actively pursuing activities, making choices and lifestyle changes.

Some of the risk factors that can be determined harmful to good health includes the following:

Smoking: this is a major risk factor that damages or affects the lungs and can lead to cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Drinking alcohol: it can cause liver damage, stroke, heart disease or cancer.

Extreme physical activities: this may lead to broken bones and other types of injuries.

Unprotected sex: it spread sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, syphilis etc.

Wellness is more than just physical health, it is holistic and multi-dimensional. It comprises of six dimensions that include spiritual, social, intellectual, physical and environmental wellness.

Spiritual wellness: spiritual wellness does not imply religion or faith of a person but the search for meaning and purpose of human existence. Developing compassion, caring, forgiving, and having a purpose in life help in spiritual wellness. This can be achieved through meditation, spending time in nature etc.

Physical wellness: physical wellness increases physical fitness. By being physically fit a person would have an enhanced ability to prevent illness and disease. Exercise stimulates an healthy mind and body. Eating a balanced diet, drinking sufficient water (eight glasses per day) and adequate sleep promotes a person’s physical wellness.

Emotional wellness: a person with emotional wellness can deal with stressful situations. A person who is aware of their own feelings has good self-esteem and has empathy towards other feeling would have emotional wellness.

Environmental wellness: awareness of the role we play in improving our natural environment rather than denigrating it and maintaining and living in a healthy physical environment free hazards promotes wellness.

Social wellness: social circles support networks are invaluable to the overall wellbeing of a person relating, interacting, and contributing to a community, establishing good interpersonal relations and maintaining long term relationship with family and friends keeps a person happier and healthier.

Intellectual wellness: mental exercise, IQ and engagement through learning problem solving and creativity support. Intellectual wellness promotes a better attitude. People who learn new things and challenge their minds can avoid mental health problems.

There are many ways to keep yourself healthy both physically and mentally. Few important ones include:

- Eating balanced diet with plenty of fruits ,vegetable, and whole grains.

-Getting regular physical activity.

-Getting enough sleep.

-Avoiding excessive alcohol, tobacco and drug use.

-Managing stress.

There are many ways to keep yourself well in all aspect of life. Here are few ways:

-Cultivating positive relationship

-Learning to manage and cope with emotions.

-Practicing gratitude and mindfulness

-Focusing on self-care and self-compassion.

Health is an important component of wellness, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Wellness is about finding balance and harmony in your life and nurturing your body mind and spirit. It is about living healthy. While health and wellness are related, they are not the same. By focusing on both health and wellness, you can achieve true wellbeing and lead a fulfilling happy life.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS