Avdhesh Jha
Health as we are aware is the state of being free from
abnormal situation whether physical or mental. The state of illness, weakness,
tiredness, anxiety, stress, fatigue, anger, hatred, revenge, extreme love or
attraction, betrayal, fear, challenge is not considered to be healthy. Anyone
who is suffering whether physically, mentally, socially, economically,
aesthetically, emotionally, ethically, morally or spiritually is not healthy.
Health being the fundamental unit of well-being remains the base and the basis
for all animals. Being healthy is a boon but unfortunately in the era of
development with money or capitalism having the basis of development and also a
priority; it’s questionable, if any human is really healthy? The Quadro of
wish, time, money and energy is very special here. In youth or early adulthood
when we have wishes, time and energy, we don’t have money; in middle adulthood,
when we have wishes, money and energy, we don’t have time; in late adulthood when
we have wishes, time and money, we don’t have energy and in old age when we
have no money and energy we die struggling only with time and wishes. Wishes
are all time but they are hardly cared for. It is said that health is wealth then
can we say that human is really wealthy? Health although being the basic aspect
of human life, it is the only one which remains the most neglected. With the
fact that economical health exists in every aspect of human society and human
health; with respect to the human and the human society, human health can be
categorised in hierarchy as physical health, emotional health, mental health,
social health, moral health and spiritual health.
Physical Health
Physical health is the base to all categorisation of human
health. The key sources of physical health could be categorised as nutrition,
exercise and environment. To preserve physical health, normally any individual cares
to protect the body from the disease and keep it strong. Water being the key to
the body, to preserve physical health the individuals drink more water to stay
hydrated. Most individuals avoid soft drinks, hard drinks, smoking, drugs etc.
to keep healthy. To keep themselves healthy, individuals take regular bath and
wash hands to keep themselves clean. For, those who can afford, clothes are
changed and washed daily. To keep strong, individuals do exercise regularly. Some
people follow yoga as exercise. Exercise doesn’t necessarily mean going to gym
and doing tough physical labour with different equipment’s. Exercise is
activity that keep the body in motion which could be satisfied by walking,
working, doing household work as such brooming, mopping, washing, cleaning, folding
the clothes, dusting, preparing food, playing indoor, outdoor games etc. Physical
health deals with adding to the strength of body and so do the humans eat more
fruits and vegetables. Depending upon the geographical location and the weather
the food habits vary with the requirements of nutrition. People in the coastal
region take more proteins in the form of sea foods. Those in extreme cold
climate along with the proteins take more carbohydrates. Different types of
fruits, vegetables and sea foods etc. are consumed to provide nutrition whether
vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals etc. to the body and keep
healthy. Sattvik ahar is used by the many people especially old age people to
keep themselves fit and healthy. It is believed that having food on time with
full meal in lunch and light food in dinner adds to physical health. Sleeping
on time and having complete sleep is must for physical health. Apart of this
when individuals fall ill, they consult the doctor and get appropriate treatment.
These are some of the common ways by which individuals try to keep good
physical health. Apart of this the environment also plays a crucial role in the
physical health because the environment impacts other types of health and thus
impacts the physical health.
Emotional Health
The environment is a mix of many factors and human
cannot remain without being influenced by the environment. Some of these
factors work as the basic needs of human. Dissatisfaction to the basic needs as
such air, water, food, shelter, clothing, sex, love, safety and security is the
cause of poor or weak emotional health. Risk to self-esteem also impacts the emotional
health. Stress, fatigue, anxiety, dilemma, problems, failure or success whether
in work, love or family, hatred, envy, jealousy etc. also influences the emotional
health negatively. Emotional Health if not cared for is likely to prone any
individual to risk. Excess of anything is risky and so here control is the
must. To add to emotional health yoga - meditation, appropriate understanding
and clarity, clarity of thoughts, balance of work and life, satisfying the needs
of air, water, food, shelter, clothing, sex, love, safety and security, and
self-esteem is must. Expression whether by words or by action is better and
harmonious way for emotional health. Individuals thus try to ensure harmony
with family, friends, nature and environment. Controlling the feeling and its
expression and developing harmony with environment is the key to emotional
health. Yoga, meditation, tai chi, balancing ourselves, patience and
perseverance are the key to add to better emotional health.
Mental Health
Mental health starts with physical health and depends
largely upon the emotional health. Physical health is must for the better
mental health and rightly it is said that a healthy body has a healthy mind. In
addition to the description in physical health, to add to the mental health individuals
remain kind, truthful, respectful, self-conscious, self-aware, righteous; have
good company, enough work, time for hobbies; treat others with equality and
fraternity as well keep themselves away from vices and wrong company. Thus for
better mental health individuals value themself and others, provide help and
support to the relatives, friends and needy, meet with friends and relatives,
give time to themself, support noble cause, read and think, share and chat,
cook and eat food of their choice, manage their activities well, do some
entertainment, spend time with and for what they like, do meditation, play fun,
discuss philosophy and psychology, set realistic goals, avoid monotony whether
in food or work, ensure their safety and security etc.
Social Health
Social health with its basis in physical, emotional
and mental health is the one required by every being. Human is no exception. A
good and harmonious behaviour is must for social health. It’s not about having
company only of people, even animals and nature prove worthy. To add to social
health with all the aspects stated above individuals remain good, courteous,
caring, accessible, approachable, and helpful. Rather than trying to reveal, they
listen more, remain curious, pursue their interests and add to their social
health. Following and accompanying interests, outing with the friends or with
nature add to social health.
Moral Health
Moral health higher in hierarchy deals with commitment
to the inherited values of the society. To add to the moral health individuals follow
religion and remain committed to the norms of the society. Health, well-being,
wellness, company, being ethical, practicing ethics, following religion,
prayers, differentiating between good and bad and following good, being
selfless, courageous, bold, brave and adding to leadership, extending support, raising
voice against vices etc. add and presents moral health.
Spiritual Health
Spiritual health with all other types of health as its
base and the highest in hierarchy of health is the most superior. With the
achievement of self-esteem, it is the stage of the path towards self-actualisation
and self-realisation. To add to the spiritual health individual’s follow and
discuss religion. Being committed to the norms of the society they discuss and
share the philosophy about an idea or concept. Charity, donations, selfless
actions, is some of its characteristics which they follow. Meditation,
godliness, righteousness, probing questioning of needs and achievement, having
the company of nature, finding god in nature and nature in god, integrity with
self, dedication and devotion with strong belief in nature, God or unknown
entity and doing or giving without any expectation is the way to acquisition of
best spiritual health.
Conclusion
Health is the basis of life. Any part of life requires
a good health. If any aspect of health is missing, life turns boredom. On the
other hand, good health adds to happiness, peace, propensity and harmony. Thus
health is the pathway to well-being and rightly said that health is wealth.
Choice is ours, whether to pay attention to health or to prepare ourself for
medication.
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