Health is a condition where disease and infirmity are completely absent. This may also mean that all the major systems of the body and mind are functioning well. A number of definitions have been use for such purposes over the years. For the purposes of this article, we will be using Dostoyevsky’s definition of health as it was used in his novel The Idiot. Dostoyevsky believed that if you could define health, you could also determine what type of person you were and what kind of life you would live.
According to Dostoyevsky, one’s total health depends on three components: the general physical condition, the mental state and the lifestyle choices. Let’s take each of these individually. If you have poor health, your lifestyle choices will determine how well you will live. Poor health can also be caused by external factors, such as bad diet, lack of exercise or exposure to certain environmental factors, which can increase your vulnerability to illness and stress. The good health is brought about through proper nutrition, regular exercise, and removing stress through diet and lifestyle choices.
According to research, people living in industrialized nations are more susceptible to chronic illness and to mortality compared to those of other cultures. One of the major reasons for this is poor diet and lack of exercise. People in industrialized nations work long hours and have stressful jobs where they experience acute stress, which can lead to a number of health problems. Work-related illnesses are a leading cause of disability and illness among workers in the United States and other developed countries.
It is important to maintain a physical and mental balance to achieve good health. This is easily achieved through dietary changes such as adding more fruits and vegetables to your daily meal and increasing the amount of physical activity you perform on a daily basis. Daily exercise should also be an integral part of your lifestyle. In addition, practicing daily relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation can also help to maintain an optimal level of health and wellness. These practices can decrease your stress levels, improve your breathing and overall body movement, and increase your emotional well-being.
The physical components of health include having a healthy weight and a stable body mass index (BMI). When you do not eat a balanced and nutritious diet, your intake of essential vitamins and minerals will be insufficient. Lack of sleep, alcohol consumption, smoking, and drug use are all physical manifestations of a disturbed diet and lifestyle. Chronic ill health is often caused by a combination of these factors. Alcohol consumption increases your risk for liver cirrhosis, high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Smoking negatively affects your overall health, accelerates the development of many physical illnesses, and decreases your lifespan.
The third component that defines health is psychological health. The state of your mental health may be the most significant indicator of your general wellbeing. When you are depressed, anxious, or suffering from stress, you experience different physiological symptoms. These symptoms can lead to a complex array of other illnesses and ailments, so it is very important to find ways to manage your stress and anxiety, even if you do not suffer from any life-threatening illness.