People may avoid health problems by leading a healthy lifestyle, while others rely on luck or family history to safeguard them. Still others may require specialist medical services for urgent conditions.
Health is an intricate issue, with numerous influences affecting people’s wellbeing – these determinants of health being known as health determinants.
Physical Activity
Physical activity is an effective tool that can help to combat many chronic illnesses and lower the risk of premature death, yet only 27% of people meet recommended aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity guidelines.
Physical movement, regardless of intensity, is defined as physical activity. This includes recreational, fitness and sport activities as well as everyday movements like walking to class or taking the stairs or mowing the lawn – though structured exercise programs that aim at increasing or maintaining physical fitness do not fall under this definition.
Even small amounts of activity can help improve health. Select activities you enjoy for increased enjoyment and long-term adherence – which could ultimately result in healthy habits being formed.
Healthy Diet
Diet is essential to good health as it provides essential vitamins and nutrients. A nutritious diet should consist of foods low in processed food consumption and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, nuts and seeds; plus adequate hydration. Eating well doesn’t have to be costly or time consuming – you might just feel better after doing it! But that doesn’t mean depriving yourself of treats from time to time!
Stress Management
Stress can leave us feeling tense and anxious, but you can manage it by practicing healthy coping mechanisms such as exercising regularly or spending quality time with loved ones. Furthermore, learning to say no when there’s too much on your plate; abstain from alcohol and drugs altogether, and promote more mindful living are also effective techniques for controlling stress.
As soon as a stressful event arises, your body responds by secreting adrenaline to increase breathing and heart rates in preparation for either fighting back or fleeing the situation. But prolonged stress – known as chronic stress – can cause health issues like high blood pressure that put you at increased risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
People experience various forms of stress, with common triggers including work-related problems, financial worries, family responsibilities and caregiving duties. Certain groups such as women, Black/Latinx communities or people living with mental illnesses are especially prone to these pressures.
Sleep
Sleep is essential to our health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, various factors can impede getting enough shuteye: insomnia-inducing disorders, work schedules that don’t allow for restful slumber, and environments not conducive to restful slumber.
Studies demonstrate the significance of quality and quantity sleep for physical, cognitive, emotional and mental well-being. While sleeping, your brain clears out waste by recycling and erasing short-term memories; parses through and stores long-term memories; regulates immune processes and emotions of the body; and also relaxes your immune system and emotions.
Sleep is essential to our overall health, yet many Americans don’t get enough of it. This is particularly true among Black and Latino populations and those working overnight or irregular shifts over long periods. More research needs to be conducted into how diet, physical activity and sleep patterns interact to influence America’s health overall.