Why Is Good Health Worth It?

Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is an “uneven condition of the physical, emotional and mental well being of a person and not simply the absence of illness and disease.” Various definitions have been utilized for various purposes over the years. In the United States, the National Health Service (NHS) defines health as “the ability to lead a quality life and the ability to work in partnership with others.” The NHS additionally states that “health maintenance” is a “method of arranging life so that the physical, emotional and mental condition of an individual meets standards of health.”

According to several other healthcare agencies, however, well-being is more than just having good health. These entities further define well-being as having “the ability to manage stress, cope with daily challenges, manage stress related problems, and live in a healthy way.” According to these sources, emotional well-being is one’s capacity to feel happiness and control depression. According to these sources, both physiological well-being and mental illness are interrelated. The causes and consequences of each can differ greatly from one person to another, thus making diagnosis and treatment of each more difficult.

Several of the environmental factors that affect a person’s overall health are known, while others are still not very well known. For instance, environmental factors such as air pollution may cause short term memory loss or symptoms of depression. However, these symptoms usually clear up after the individual has become accustomed to their new environment. Another environmental factor that may be important in the development of some illnesses is the extent of sun exposure. Long periods of sun exposure result in increased production of vitamin D and may decrease the likelihood of certain diseases.