Some one has rightly said: ‘Physical fitness and wellness are one’s richest possessions; they can not be purchased but are to be earned through regular and systematic fitness programme and positive lifestyle habits’.
Long ago Plato observed: ‘The weaker the body, the more it commands, the stronger it is, the better it obeys’.
Rousseau once said: ‘A person who does not know swimming is an illiterate person’.
Wellness is considered to be an active process of becoming aware of and learning to make choices (healthy choices) that lead toward a longer and more successful existence.
“Wellness is a multidimensional state of being describing the existence of positive health in an individual as exemplified by quality of life and a sense of well-being.” (Corbin & Pangrazi)
“A set of organized activities and systematic interventions, offered through corporations / work sites, managed care organizations, and governmental / community agencies, whose primary purposes are to provide health education, identify modifiable health risks, and influence health behavior changes.” (Mulyihill).
Definition of Wellness : The term wellness can be defined as the constant and deliberate effort to remain healthy and attain highest potential for well-being.
Physical fitness is the capacity to carry out, reasonably well, various forms of physical activities, without being unduly tired and includes qualities important to the individual’s health and well-being. Physical fitness can be developed through a variety of exercise programmes of which a person may adopt any one depending upon the purpose, need, time and the facilities available.
Positive effects of regular and vigorous exercises are associated with the prevention of degenerative diseases such as coronary heart disease, obesity and various musculo-skeletal disorders. Research has shown that hypokinetic diseases namely cardio-vascular disease, adult onset of diabetes and low back problems are on the increase.
Cardio-vascular Risk Factors
The main cardio-vascular risk factors responsible for death are arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, peripheral vascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and congestive heart failure. During the last approximately three decades, there has been reduction in these problems mainly because of proper risk factor management and better health care. Cardio-vascular risk factors can also be reduced through a systematic and well-developed programme of sports, fitness activities and healthy lifestyle.
Health education is a process that informs, motivates and helps people to adopt and maintain health practices and life style. It disseminates scientific knowledge about prevention of disease and thus promoting good health. It involves people to change their habits and ways of living and helps people by informing them about the harmful effect of alcohol, smoking, drugs and physical inactivity. Health education provides learning experiences, which favorably influence habits, attitudes and knowledge relating to individual, family and community.
Consumption of alcohol and hard drugs are the most self-destructive forms of addiction in our society. Intake of alcohol causes vision and hearing problems, decreases reaction time, lowers concentration and motor performance and adversely affects sexual functions. Long term effects of alcohol intake cause scarring of the liver, increase risk of oral, esophageal and liver cancer, raise blood pressure, damage brain cells thus resulting in loss of memory, cause stomach ulcers, increase risk of heart strokes and sexual impotence. Over the years, consumption of illegal drugs has become a serious problem all over the world. Today’s drugs are stronger, more addictive and pose a greater risk than ever before.
Smoking is one of the most common causes of cardiovascular disease and is responsible for pre-mature deaths all over the world. Smoking and tobacco chewing cause arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, blood pressure and irritability of the heart. Tobacco chewing also increases the risk of mouth cancer.
According to WHO, smoking causes 5.1 million deaths every year. Approximately 6.03, 000 deaths are the result of second hand smoking. Researchers found that lowest rates of exposure were in America, the Eastern Mediterranean and Africa. Highest numbers of people exposed to second hand smoking are in Europe and Asia. Around 40% children and 30% non smoking man and women regularly breathe second hand smoke. Children whose parents smoke have a higher risk of sudden infant death.
Responsibilities and pressures of daily life are common sources of tension and stress. If they are not managed properly, they can become a serious hazard and put constant strain on the Cardio-vascular system which may in turn lead to heart disease. Physical exercises and breathing techniques are useful in stress management.
Good nutrition has a very close relationship to overall health and well being of the human body. Intake of proper nutrition guarantees supply of all essential nutrients for normal tissue growth and their repair and maintenance. It is essential to strike a balance between quality and quantity of food and it should be ensured that the food comprises of all essential nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water) required by the human body so as to carry out various activities efficiently and also sustain life.
About 20% to 25% deaths all over the world are caused due to cancer. Medical scientists are of the opinion that cancer is related to a person’s life style and environmental factors. What we eat and drink, where we work and play are closely associated with cancer. Sound knowledge of health education and healthy life style patterns can go a long way in fighting cancer.
Several research studies have reported a positive relationship among spiritual well-being, emotional-well being and life’s satisfaction and health and also that occurrence of heart attacks is more among non-religious people.
Personal safety and accident prevention are vital components of wellness and enable a person in achieving a higher quality of life. It is essential to follow all safety rules in order to avoid accidents so as to ensure total well-being of the person.
Sexuality :
Sexually transmitted diseases are great health hazard and in the recent past have become more common all over the world. AIDS is the most frightening of the sexually transmitted diseases because so far there is no known cure for this. The other sexually transmitted diseases are gonorrhoea, genital warts, herpes, syphilis and chlamydia and some of them are curable. The best way to prevent sexually transmitted is to have sexual relationship with only one person, who has sexual relationship only with you.
In order to guarantee a better, healthier, happier and more productive life, each individual is to be taught to control his personal health habits. Research studies have revealed that practicing following simple lifestyle habits may significantly increase quality of life and in turn enhance longevity.
1. Control of body weight i.e. maintaining ideal body weight (proper ratio of lean body weight and fat weight).
2. Proper sleep-seven to eight hours each night.
3. Developing good eating habit i.e. not eating between meals, eating less sweets and fat and eating breakfast every day.
4. Regularity in exercise.
5.Control of tensions and management of stress.
6. Avoiding intake of alcohol, smoking of cigarettes, chewing tobacco and refraining from all other hard drugs and management of stress.
- Often feel close to tears?
- Easily snap and shout at those around you at home and work?
- Have a reduced sex drive?
- Sleep badly?
- Fidget, bite your nails or fiddle with your hair?
- Find it hard to concentrate, and impossible to make decisions?
- Find it increasingly hard just to talk to people?
- Eat when you are not hungry or skip meals altogether?
- Feel tired most of the time?
- Think that your sense of humor has gone for good?
- Feel suspicious of others?
- Drink or smoke more to help you through the most difficult days?
- Feel that you just cannot cope
1. Take regular holidays.
2. Eat regular and healthy meals.
3. Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco.
4. Take regular exercise.
5. Practice some form of relaxation technique such as yoga, meditation and deep breathing exercises.
6. Face up to work or relationship problems and do something to resolve them.
7. Learn to recognize your own threshold for stress, and do not push yourself past it.
8. Consider having a pet, stroking an animal can help you to relax.
9. Talk about your problems. A professional counselor will be able to help you to take an objective view of yourself, and put your problems into perspective.
It is recommended that each individual should regularly take part in fitness and wellness programmes for developing “positive addictions” and continue with them throughout so as to experience a “new quality of life”.
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