Health, according to the World Health Organization, “is a state of full physical, emotional and social well being and not just the absence of illness and infirmity.” A wide variety of definitions are used for these purposes. Some consider it to be the state of no sickness or disease while other consider it to be the quality of life one enjoys after living with an illness or disability. In essence, health is a state that covers all the aspects of life that we experience both individually and as a whole.
What do we mean by total health? We often hear terms like indigestion, allergies, asthma, obesity, hypertension, and insomnia, just to mention a few. An individual’s health depends upon the complete condition of the body. It is considered to be a main article of concern when a person has a prolonged period of illness or disability which interferes with their work or daily activities. When we speak of health, it can also refer to the prevention of illness and disease as well as to maintaining good health through the maintenance of proper nutrition and regular exercise.
The primary objective of health is the promotion of well-being. The state of health impacts our mental health and the functioning of our muscles and joints as well as our immunity against disease. The state of mental health refers to a person’s ability to cope with his environment and to function normally within the society. Mental illness is considered a main article of concern when a person experiences distress and discomfort that interfere with his work and personal life as well as interferes with his capacity to carry out his day to day activities. This article will discuss the relation between health and mental illness and some of the preventive measures that are effective in the treatment and cure of the said illness.
Health issues such as smoking, alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, suicide, eating disorders, stress and occupational injuries are considered as the major causes of disability and many cases of these illnesses have become fatal over time. These diseases hinder the normal functions of our body systems, weaken our immune system, cause fatigue, create physical discomforts and contribute greatly to our incurable illnesses. The effects of these diseases can be very devastating especially to our loved ones and ourselves who are affected with them. Thus, prevention is better than cure. In this case, the main article of concern is mental wellness and its contribution to our individual well-being.
Mental health science recognizes that mental diseases are caused by the mental disorders of the individual himself. The only way to cure the said diseases is to change the mental structure of the person so that he becomes more healthy from inside. Mental illnesses are treatable through medication, therapy and support services provided by health science. In addition, there are also other methods that are effective in the prevention of mental illnesses; for instance, physical education, family planning, early detection through screening and maintaining a healthy social network have all been proven effective in preventing mental disorders and even in curbing their consequences.
However, the determination of health status is determined through a series of physical tests such as height, weight, blood pressure and respiration rate. All these determinants affect our health status and are usually used in the diagnosis of the disease. However, a series of tests including electrocardiogram, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography scan and x-ray is needed before the patient is diagnosed with any illness. These tests determine the presence and severity of the diseases and then the appropriate treatment that is needed is determined.