“Health,” according to the World Health Organization, is an “equivalent” term that includes “a condition of the body that contributes to life’s processes and activities and is maintained through healthy interactions with the physical environment.” Various definitions have been employed over time for various purposes. For the most common purposes, however, health is primarily defined by prevention of illness and disability and maintenance of health.
The National Association of State Boards of Health and Human Services recommends that a patient be examined for indicators of well-being using seven dimensions of physical health: physical function, bodily energy, cognitive function, psychological health, vitality, and social support. According to this view, seven dimensions are the basis for assessing a person’s wellness. But what are the seven dimensions of health? According to some commentators, a good way to think about it is to think in terms of the seven “layers” of health: physical health, mental health, social support, emotional health, functional health, and self-concept and motivation. Each layer develops as a result of exposure to the risk factors, experiences, and environments that promote poor health.
Besides thinking in terms of seven dimensions of health, it is important to think in terms of emotional wellness. Emotional wellness includes both subjective wellness and objective wellness. Subjective wellness is what is important to you (your own self-image), whereas objective wellness involves your ability to see how you look, feel, behave, and adapt to your environment. Some authors compare emotional health to a “filtered” or “honed” diamond, which can be improved through knowledge of safe eating, exercise, and quitting smoking. According to these commentators, emotional wellness includes self-image, social support, social norms, environmental stability, and coping skills, all of which are necessary for optimal health.
The third dimension of public health concern is quality of life. In this context, it usually means the ability to live a reasonably normal life. This encompasses the elements that are needed for the completion of a well-balanced life, such as good physical health, mental health, and social support. In some contexts, “complete physical health” is used to refer to a condition that allows the sufferer to engage in ordinary activities without limitations; “complete mental health” refers to a state in which the sufferer is able to think and reason reasonably and to share their thoughts with other people; and “social support” refers to a group or network of people who can help the person to carry out their life as well as to cope with the disease or conditions that might cause disability.
There are several components of health promotion. These include promoting health education, promoting health awareness, and promoting healthy lifestyles. These activities are undertaken by the government, private organizations, schools, hospitals, and local communities. They also involve using a range of strategies, such as advertising, creating policies, implementing laws, creating guidelines, organizing training courses and workshops, and engaging people through mass media. The environment also plays an important role in health promotion, as it has an important impact on health, the economy, and society in general.
For example, a healthy environment promotes a sense of wellbeing, which is then translated into good health. On the other hand, unhealthy environments create negative health effects, such as poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and exposure to toxins and pollution. Creating a healthy and safe environment will promote the maintenance of good health and help people to keep away from diseases and conditions that can lead to serious health problems. However, the extent to which an environment affects health varies according to the type of environment, such as whether it is rich or poor, clean or dirty, or if there are natural or man-made contaminants to consider.