“Health” is defined as a condition of general, physical, mental and emotional well-being where infirmity and disease are absent. It is the physical and mental state of being fit or free from disease. A medical term is an expression used to describe a particular process or event.
The term ‘healthy’ is also used to describe a person who is physically fit and physically active. The concept of health was originated in Greece. It is a word that has come to signify the general sense of well being. As the concept of health has developed over the years it has been applied to several fields. The term ‘health’ is sometimes used to refer to physical and mental wellness. Health is sometimes used to describe a person’s overall health, whether they have not sustained any disease. Health, in this context, is seen as a set of qualities which a person is born with and which they maintain through life.
As an example, a common understanding of healthy eating would involve eating food in order to eat. This is not to say that one should avoid dieting or counting calories as these are essential elements to good nutrition. Healthy eating has become a term that encompasses a number of aspects including eating healthy on a diet, maintaining proper nutrition levels, reducing risks of chronic illness and disease through diet and exercise, and reducing or eliminating environmental risks and toxins from the body. It is important to note that these are all interrelated and that healthy eating is only part of a balanced lifestyle.
Physical well being refers to the state of being able to carry out activities that would otherwise be too physically demanding. Physical well being is important to a number of factors including a person’s ability to work. This does not just pertain to working but involves the ability to function effectively at home, in education and in other social settings.
Mental well being refers to the state in which a person is able to function at a high level both mentally and emotionally. Mental well being is important to people who suffer from depression and other mental illnesses. People who suffer from chronic stress can benefit from taking regular medication.
The general idea of health has been developed through the process of observation and research and has therefore changed a great deal over the years. This has resulted in an increase in the awareness of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle.