Health & Wellness 1Lesson 1: What is Health?

Done by: Nagham Al Hashimi

• Define health• Identify the six components of health• State the importance of striving for optimal

health • Describe four influences on wellness• Recognize three ways to take charge of

your wellness• Describe the ways you can improve the six

components of your health

Lesson Objectives:

Health: is the state of well being in which all of the components of health – Physical, emotional, social, mental, spiritual, and environmental – are in balance.

Six Components of health:1. Physical health: refers to the way your body functions; it includes eating

right and getting regular exercise, and being at your recommended body weight.

What is health? What are health components?

2. Emotional health: is expressing your emotions in a positive, nondestructive way. Everyone experiences unpleasant feeling at one time or another

Health components

Social health is the quality of relationships with friends, family, teachers and others you are in contact with. A socially healthy person also stays clear of those who do not treat him or her with respect and tolerance.

3. Social health

Mental health is the ability to recognize reality and cope with the demands of daily life. Phobia is an irrational and excessive fear of something that average people do not get afraid of such as fear of heights.

4. Mental Health

Spiritual health means different things to different people. Sometimes it’s defined by the practice of religion; sometimes it is the understanding of their purpose in life.

5.Spiritual Health

Environmental health is keeping your air and water clean, your food safe and the land around you enjoyable and safe

The environment is made up of living and nonliving things in your world. It includes air, water and land.

Your environment is your surroundings

6. Environmental health

Health Components

Wellness: Is the achievement of person’s best in all six

components of health? It will be unrealistic that a person could achieve complete wellness all the time.

Wellness: Striving for optimal health!

1. Wellness Continuum◦ Health falls somewhere on a line (continuum) from a high

level to a low level.◦ Choices determine whether YOU have a High or Low level

of Health. 2. Low Level of Health Lack of Energy, inattention, minor aches and pains Chronic Disorders Disability 3. High Level of Health Exhibit a high degree of responsibility, discipline, and

positive direction in life. Accept responsibility for their health.

Health and Wellness Continuum:

Social influences: Your health is also influenced by the relationships you have with

other people , for example, if you your friend convince you to go to the party where alcohol is available , your friends are influencing your health in a negative way.

Heredity influences: Your health can be influenced by your heredity – the traits you

inherit from your parents. For example, if several members of your family have developed diabetes, you may be at risk of diabetes.

Environmental influences: Your surroundings, the area where you live and all the things you

have contact with are part of your environment. Pollutants, safety regulations and the availability use of the medical care are aspects of your environment that affect your health.

Cultural influences: Culture is the values, beliefs and practices shared by people that

have a common background. Your culture can strongly influence your health. For example, some Asian culture eat a lot of vegetable and sea foods in their diet.

Influences on Your Health

Knowledge an important way to improve your health is through your knowledge. Health literacy is the knowledge of health information needed to make good choices about your health. Studying health in school will certainly increase your health literacy.

Lifestyle one of the most important ways to improve your health is to make behavioral changes in your lifestyle. Putting your knowledge into action is a sure way to take charge of your wellness.

Attitude A person’s way of thinking or attitude greatly affect’s that person’s health. By changing your attitude you can act in ways that make you a healthier person. For example, you could try to change your attitude toward stress. You can try to relax and stop let- things the” little things “bother you. if you can keep stress from affecting you, you will find that you will feel better mentally and physically.

Taking Charge of your Wellness