Factors for good health

Health depends on a wide range of factors.

Physical and mental health are the two most commonly discussed types of health.

Physical health

In a person who experiences physical health, bodily functions are working at peak performance, due not only to a lack of disease, but also to regular exercise, balanced nutrition and adequate rest.

Physical wellbeing involves pursuing a healthful lifestyle to decrease the risk of disease. Maintaining physical fitness, for example, can protect and develop the endurance of a person’s breathing and heart function, muscular strength, flexibility and body composition.

Mental health

Mental health refers to a person’s emotional, social and psychological wellbeing. Mental health is as important as physical health to a full, active lifestyle.

How a person manages stress will affect health. People who smoke, drink, or take drugs to forget their problems are likely to have more health problems later than someone who combats stress through a healthful diet and exercise.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the higher a person’s socioeconomic status, the more likely they are to enjoy good health, a good education, a well-paid job, afford good healthcare when their health is threatened.

People with a lower socioeconomic status are more likely to experience stresses related to daily living, such as financial difficulties, marital disruption and unemployment, as well as social factors, such as marginalization and discrimination. All these add to the risk of poor health.

Also a low socio-economic status often means less access to healthcare. People in developed countries with universal healthcare services have longer life expectancies than people in developed countries without universal healthcare.

Cultural issues can affect health. For example, around the Mediterranean, people are more likely to consume high levels of fruits, vegetables and olive, and to eat as a family, compared with cultures with a high consumption of fast food.

Overall, steps that can help us maximize our health include:

• a balanced, nutritious diet, sourced as naturally as possible
• regular exercising
• screening for diseases that may present a risk
• learning to manage stress
• engaging in activities that provide purpose and connection to others
• maintaining a positive outlook and appreciating what you have
• defining a value system, and putting it into action