Health is a condition where disease and infirmity are completely absent. Different definitions have been applied for many different purposes over the years. It has even been considered as a state of being, because as humans, we always think that we are healthy and we are constantly trying to improve our health conditions. When it comes to the term health, some people might feel that it is something subjective and not real, while others consider it to be an actual state of being.
According to the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, good health is having a total body burden that is “not unusually high.” This could also include being overweight, smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol or using tobacco products. It should also include having blood pressure that is not too high and having a normal body mass index. But as far as health problems go, physical ailments like arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, etc. are included.
Most of the health status problems in the United States can be traced to either the lack of exercise, inactivity, or diets that are deficient in vitamins or minerals. The poor health status can be traced to such diseases as obesity, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, etc. The reasons for the lack of good health status could also be based on bad dietary habits or the consumption of too much fat or cholesterol in food. Mental problems like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia, psychosis, etc. could also result from the poor mental health status.
For some, being healthy means feeling good. For other, feeling good is defined by being physically and mentally healthy. Being physically healthy could be defined as having muscle strength, endurance, and a lean body weight. Having a good and active mental health could mean having an ability to solve problems, to learn new things, to think creatively, and to accept and give affection to family members and friends. Having a social life would mean having people to share it with.
Health concerns could also be linked to the quality of life and happiness in a person’s life. It has been found out that people living in unhealthy environments or living in bad neighborhoods are the ones who have more incidences of incurable diseases. On the other hand, those who live in healthy environments or in good neighborhoods have lesser incidences of diseases. Therefore, it is important to protect and preserve the general state of public health through education and promotion of healthy living and lifestyle, which is the core of all forms of physical and mental health problems.
In order for the United States population to maintain its high level of overall well-being, it is imperative that health issues are addressed on a proactive basis. Public health, population health, disability, and nutrition programs must be administered on a nationwide scale in order for them to be effectively disseminated. The best determinants of the nation’s health and its citizens’ well-being are education and awareness. This is one way that the United States government can promote healthy living and development.