Understanding Health

H ealth and its D imensions Health, indicates a sound body and a sound mind. It is multidimensional — the dimensions being physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual and environmental. All these dimensions are interrelated with one another. Physical Dimension Physical dimension refers to the ability of a human body to function properly.

It involves exercises, healthy habits, balanced diet, bone health, and body mass index. We can maintain a healthy body by taking proper nutrition, exercising, and avoiding harmful habits such as substance abuse. It is better to consume nutritious foods and beverages that enhance good health rather than those which impair it. Physical wellness is the ability to maintain the quality of life that allows one to get through daily activities without undue fatigue or physical stress.

Optimal physical health consists of building physical strength, flexibility, coordinative ability, and endurance while taking safety precautions including medical self-care and appropriate use of a medical system, as well as protecting oneself from injuries and harm. It involves personal responsibility, disease prevention, and care for minor illnesses and also knowing when professional medical attention is needed. Being physically fit and feeling physically well often leads to the psychological benefits of enhanced self-esteem, self-control, determination and a sense of direction. Mental Dimension Mental health refers to the cognitive aspects of health that includes thinking, reasoning, remembering, imagining, and learning words.

Cognitive aspect is related to the processes of perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning, as contrasted with emotional processes. It refers to the ability of individuals to use their brain and think, process information and act properly. It is our capacity to master new skills, embrace humour, and creativity. A sound mental health plays an important role in shaping our daily activities.

It helps individuals in making a complete person. To stimulate our mental health, we can engage in various activities such as questioning critically, involving ourselves in creative, and problem solving activities. Mental health leads to an increase in self-esteem, and thereby leads to confidence in social situations. A sound mental health depends primarily on increased physical activities.

Engaging in games and sports regularly keeps us mentally active. How can we have good mental health? •• Eat healthy food: There are strong links between what we eat and how we feel. A ‘healthy diet’ is one that has enough essential nutrient, and provides the right amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight.

•• Express your feelings: Whenever we are feeling stressed, then talking about our feelings helps us to stay in good mental health. •• Play games and sports you like: What do you love to play? Playing Hockey, Cricket, Chess or any other game or doing an activity you enjoy or you’re good at, boosts your self-esteem. It helps you to concentrate, sleep, look, and feel better.

Enjoying through games helps in beating stress also. •• Get enough sleep: Every day our body needs time to rest and heal. Sleep for about eight hours is must for all, especially for children. •• Spend time with friends and family: Friends and family can make you feel cared for.

They can offer different views to your problems, and the tension you are feeling. This helps in better understanding of the problem or situation and thus in solving the problems. •• Ask for help: None of us is perfect in all aspects. We all have problems when things go wrong or get tired at times.

If you feel that you cannot cope up with the situation, and things are getting too much, then do not hesitate to ask for help. •• Do not consume tobacco products or alcohol: Tobacco and alcohol result in illness in proportion to the consumption. Learn to say ‘No’ to your friends in such situations. Social Dimension This dimension of health refers to the ability of individuals to interact with others in the socio-cultural environment.

A sound social health helps us in maintaining healthy relationships with others. Good social health includes not only having positive relationships but behaving appropriately and maintaining socially acceptable standards. It focuses on creating and maintaining healthy, and supportive relationships with family, neighborhood, friends, peers, teachers, and community members. Good communication skills help in establishing sound relationships.

These relationships impact a person’s life the most. Social health also affects the other dimensions of health in many ways. A bad social life, many a times, lead individuals to question their purpose in life or feel isolated and unwanted. Such feelings can de-motivate individuals from physical activity and push them towards depression.

Emotional Dimension Emotional dimension of health is another important ability to cope, adjust and adapt to our environment. People with positive mindset tend to be more successful. It is a commonly used statement that ‘individuals become the type of person like the friends they have’. It means that the friends and other people who live together in the immediate environment play a very important role in personality development and emotional wellness.

Some of the techniques which help in having stable emotional health include: reading inspirational books, setting goals, learning how to deal with setbacks, acquiring characteristics such as hope, enthusiasm, and positive thinking. Spiritual Dimension There are different belief systems that exist all around the world. The spiritual beliefs will help the individuals discover and pursue their own value and belief and a sense of overall purpose in life. Generally, people often find their purpose from a belief or faith system while others create their own school of worship.

A person who has a purpose in life is said to be healthier than those who do not have it. Spiritual health easily affects emotional and mental health as having a purpose in life can help you to apply yourself to achieving goals. Having a purpose in life can also help people to maintain a proper perspective of life and overcome adversity. Often people who are spiritual, meet together regularly around their spiritual purpose, which helps to improve their social health also.

Environmental Dimension Environmental health inspires us to live a lifestyle that is beneficial for our surroundings. It encourages us to live in harmony with the nature by taking action to protect it. Our environment consists of external and internal factors. Our surroundings such as our habitat, occupation, pollution levels at the places where we live and work constitute our external environment.

A healthier planet leads to healthier inhabitants. The internal environment refers to an individual’s internal structure in the form of genetic composition, which is very crucial in determining the health and wellness of human beings. Other environmental factors which include our family, friends, neighbourhood, community, habitat, all have an impact on our health. The core principle of environmental wellness is respect for nature and all the species living in it.

Environmental wellness does not mandate you to join a movement or organisation, but it does encourage you to practise habits that promote a healthy environment. When you become environmentally Activity . •• List actions and activities to make ‘greener’ lifestyle, at home and at school. •• Review and find out how far you are able to achieve the objective of becoming ‘greener’.

•• Motivate others to adopt life style which promote greening the environment. aware, you will be able to realise how your daily habits affect the environment. Improving environmental wellness is simple and results in a more balanced lifestyle.