Many factors influence people’s health. These are called determinants of health and include living and working conditions, education, income, neighborhood characteristics, social inclusion, and access to medical care. Wholeness relates to the perception of health as a holistic phenomenon. Pragmatism reflects the notion that health depends on the individual’s ability to live according to his or her values.
Physical
Physical Health is a person’s ability to function well physically. It can be achieved by maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle that includes moderate-vigorous exercise and sufficient rest along with regular medical care. It also involves being able to participate in daily activities such as work, play and hobbies and is typically measured by how well a person feels in their body. Maintaining good physical health can help prevent disease and improve your quality of life. It can also lower your risk of suffering from mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Physical health can be impacted by your environment and the way you live your life, such as whether you have access to affordable, quality healthcare or a social support network.
There has been a paradigm shift in how health is conceived and there is now
a growing recognition that both physical and mental health are interconnected
and mutually influential. This has prompted a need for more comprehensive
methods to test and understand these relationships. We use econometric approaches
(time-differenced and IV estimators) to explore these interlinkages and to
address potential endogeneity of physical health, as well as the reciprocal
nature of the relationship between shocks to health and their underlying
conditions and symptoms. We instrument physical health with a dummy variable
for each long term health condition that affects everyday functioning and lasts
for six months or more, as well as a dummy variable to indicate being exposed
to a shock to an individual’s own physical health (which may have had a lasting
effect) and the length of time since the shock (in order to capture the fact
that people’s physical health may have worsened and then recovered over time).
All of these instruments passed relevance and exclusion tests in the first
stage of the estimation.
Mental
Having good mental health means being able to think clearly, communicate with others, manage emotions and feel hopeful about your future. It is also about being able to cope with difficulties and be active in your community. When you are ill, your emotional well-being can be affected as much as your physical health. In fact, poor mental health can lead to a wide range of physical problems including fatigue, unexplained aches and pains and a decreased appetite. These problems can also make it harder to maintain healthy habits such as getting regular exercise, eating nutritious food and sleeping enough.
People with serious mental illness can live a full and productive life,
despite the challenges they may face. With the help of treatment and other
support services, many find a sense of meaning in their lives and develop an
ability to adapt to their circumstances. However, it is still common for people
to have unmet needs, especially in low- and middle-income countries where less
than 1% of their health budget goes toward mental health and two-thirds of that
money goes to standalone mental hospitals that are often associated with human
rights violations and poor outcomes.
There is a great need for countries to implement comprehensive approaches to
mental health, which include integrating mental health into general health
care, focusing on prevention and promotion, providing effective interventions
and developing the evidence base. The WHO’s “Mental health atlas 2020” analysis
shows that there is still a substantial gap between the number of people who
need treatment and the services available. The underlying causes of this gap
are complex. They involve a mix of factors – from local threats like violence,
economic instability and natural disasters to global ones such as disease
outbreaks, humanitarian emergencies and forced displacement.
Social
When you think of health, your mind may go to things like getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet. But your body isn’t the whole picture, and you can’t be healthy without considering other aspects of your well-being, including your social health. Social health, which is defined as a person’s sense of connection to others and to community, is an important part of overall well-being. While it is often viewed as a separate entity from mental health, research has shown that social wellness is influenced by and influences both psychological and physical health.
Despite the fact that we live in a time of non-face-to-face digital social
interaction, a person’s social health is more important than ever. Studies have
shown that isolation is associated with a number of health risks, from heart
disease to autoimmune disorders to high blood pressure and even a slow response
to wound healing. These are all linked to a lack of social connections and
support.
The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to improve your
social health. This doesn’t mean becoming a party animal or trying to force
yourself to be social, but it does include making an effort to connect with
others in real life on a regular basis and spending quality time with the
people you care about. This also includes finding a support network to lean on
in tough times. In the larger context, social health is considered one of many
determinants of your health, along with the environment you live in, housing,
employment, and education. These factors are known as the social determinants
of health, and they can play a bigger role in health outcomes than health
behaviors and medical treatment.
Spiritual
Spiritual health refers to individuals’ feeling of connection with something
bigger than themselves. This may include a belief in God or a higher power, a
sense of purpose, morality and/or a connection with nature. While everyone’s
spiritual journey is unique, some of the common components of spiritual
well-being are hope, a positive outlook on life, a sense of forgiveness and
self-acceptance, a commitment to others and their beliefs, and feelings of
peace.
Spirituality has been shown to positively impact physical, mental and social wellness. In fact, a study on the relationship between spirituality and wellbeing found that people who practiced a religious religion experienced less stress, anxiety, depression and more optimism than those who did not. Additionally, those who were spiritually healthy also had a stronger sense of community and meaning in their lives. This dimension includes a sense of connection with God, love for and prayer to Him, faith in Him and his divine plan, feeling that the universe is unified by one force and that human life should be aligned with it. It is associated with benevolence, pacifism and human connection with others and the nature based on moral virtues such as compassion, altruism, generosity and honesty.
Another aspect of this dimension is the understanding that human existence
is meaningful and that death is a natural part of the life cycle. It also
includes a deep appreciation of and gratitude for the world we live in and the
gift of life itself. As a result, the spiritually healthy are more likely to
help and care for their fellow man. This is often reflected in the type of work
they do. For example, spiritually healthy individuals are more likely to be
kinder to coworkers and patients, and show more empathy towards those who have
gone through tough times.
Emotional
Emotional health is a broad term that includes your ability to manage feelings like stress, anger, sadness, and joy. It also includes having a positive self-image and strong relationships. There are many factors that can influence your emotional health, such as a lack of work-life balance, toxic or draining relationships, and genetics. It takes a lot of work and practice to improve your emotional health. Self-reflection and learning to identify your emotions are great places to start. Practicing healthy coping mechanisms such as exercise, meditation, journaling, and spending time with loved ones are all important components to your emotional well-being.
When you’re feeling negative emotions, it’s important to express them in a safe and supportive environment. This can include talking to a friend, a family member, or a counselor. It’s also essential to take some time for yourself, so you can recharge and feel better. Negative emotional states can have a direct impact on your physical health. When you’re under stress, it can suppress the immune system and leave you susceptible to disease and infection. Having healthy coping skills and learning to manage your emotions can help you prevent these negative effects on your body.
Your emotional health is just as important as your physical health.
Developing and maintaining good emotional health can be challenging, but it’s
worth the effort. It will lead to a more balanced life, improved relationships,
and a sense of wellness that can carry you through difficult times. Just like
improving your physical health, emotional health is a journey and requires a
consistent, conscious effort. Ultimately, it will pay off! NIH-funded
scientists are finding that your attitude and mood affect your overall health.
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