Location: Home > Health & Fitness
The changing landscape of health
The way we think about physical health and illness has changed in the past 20 years. No longer do we consider health and illness from a purely biological perspective.
Today, we have come to realize that our physical well-being depends upon an interplay of biological, psychological and socio-cultural factors.
In the developed world it is rare today to die from infectious diseases such as smallpox, tuberculosis, polio, malaria, cholera, typhoid fever, or diphtheria. While they were common prior to the 20th centuries, improved nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, clean water, coupled with wide-spread immunisation and new medicines, they no longer pose a major threat to us. Instead, chronic diseases have taken their place, such as cancer, cardiovascular illness (primarily heart disease and stroke), mental illness, diabetes and obesity.
Many of these illnesses are so called lifestyle diseases. In general, we eat too much of the wrong foods, we exercise too little, and we no longer enjoy the healing effects of social networks that have helped previous generations to cope with daily stressors.
We have also come to realize that our genetic make-up can influence the expression and development of modern chronic illnesses. For example, not every smoker will necessarily develop lung cancer. Some exceptional individuals are protected by their genetic make-up. Others, knowing that they have a predisposition to develop certain types of chronic diseases can often influence outcomes by adopting a healthier lifestyle. In fact, we all can tap into the secret for a healthy and fulfilling life.
As humans we are not just a consequence of our genes or of our past excesses in food, drink and other harmful behaviours or experiences. We can consciously and actively create a new reality, a better, healthier life. We can avoid becoming ill or, if we are already unwell, improve our health and nurse our body back to a better health.
How?
- We can seek out advice and information about health and wellbeing and select those that we feel most comfortable with.
- Advice and information alone will not improve our circumstances. However, using both and actively incorporating them into our daily lives will result in more positive outcomes.
- Your body and soul will positively respond to your actions. Some benefits will be almost immediate; others will take some time to notice. Irrespective of how fast you notice any improvements, they will eventuate.
- You are likely to feel energized, in control, and more content. These feelings will sustain you and may propel you to actively change other aspects of your life in need of improvement.
- Your will notice that a large proportion of your health and wellbeing is in your own hands.
Related articles
Bookmark this page
Print this page
Return to home page
