Public Health and Well-Being
Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is a condition characterized by a capacity to withstand diseases, sickness, accidents, and disability or death arising from unsafe conditions. A number of definitions have also been used over time for different applications. In general, health is associated with physical well-being including healthy weight, normal body mass index, and good nutritional status. Other important considerations in achieving good health are cleanness, regular exercise, and avoidance of tobacco use.
There are four major determinants of health: location, personal relationship, lifestyle, and work. These four determinants are interrelated and determined through scientific research, public health, and medical practice. An area of specific focus is on the determinants of health status among older persons. Studies on how the elderly relate to health, how they lead a healthy life, and the factors that promote the aging process have been developed over the last 50 years.
Public Health concerns the spread of diseases, preventable diseases, and all those aspects that influence the level of health in a community or country. The determinants of public health are generally considered to be the condition of general health, morbidity, mortality, prevalence, and prevention of diseases. Among these aspects, deaths from diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis, and infectious diseases such as HIV are very high. Another aspect of public health is the quality of the public health system. The aspects of public health science that have the greatest impact on the overall quality of life include interventions in the epidemiology of a disease, the creation of healthy communities, and protection of the population from health threats such as poverty, malnutrition, and disease.
To be able to feel good about one’s physical and mental health, it is necessary to maintain a healthy diet, regular physical activity, quit smoking and minimize the intake of alcohol and drugs. There is no doubt that these steps will make a person feel good about his or her physical and mental health. However, they will not alone make a person feel good, but they will not suffice in order to achieve and maintain a truly happy and healthy lifestyle. This is where diet and exercise come in. A balanced and a healthy diet and exercise program will go a long way in making a person feel good about him/herself, thus promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Health psychology is concerned with the mental health of an individual and how he or she impacts his or her relationships and daily life. As compared to public health and medical care, the focus of this field is more on the mental health of an individual and how his or her attitude, thoughts, values and experiences to contribute to his or her well-being. It is believed by many people that psychology and public health are closely related and that they can be strongly influenced by each other. There has been much research on the relationship between psychology and well-being, and the results show that there is indeed a link between these two fields.
The United States of America has been maintaining high levels of wellness since the 19th century. It is believed that the United States of America has one of the highest wellness indexes in the western world. According to the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States of America has one of the lowest rates of deaths due to heart disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and other sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, it can be concluded that the promotion of mental health and well-being is a crucial component of the health maintenance of the nation.