Understanding Health and Wellness

Health Responsibility

The importance of developing the knowledge and skills you need to make healthy choices and take charge of your health for a lifetime

Wellness Triangle

Balancing all 3 sides mean that your physical, mental/emotional, and social health is in balance

Health Continuum

A sliding scale that spans the complete range of health, from a lack of health and wellness at one end to a high level of wellness at the other

Health

The combination of physical, mental/emotional, and social well-being

Wellness

An overall sense of well-being or total health

Physical

How well your body functions; having enough energy to perform your daily activities, deal with everyday stresses, and avoid injury

Mental/Emotional

Your feelings and thoughts; a reflection of how you feel about yourself, how you meet the demands of your daily life, and how you cope with problems

Spiritual

A deep-seated sense of meaning and purpose in life

Social

How well you get along with others; maintaining healthy relationships

Chronic Illness

An ongoing condition or disease

Acute Illness

A health condition that develops quickly and lasts a short time, usually a few days or weeks

Effects of Your Health

A lifetime of good health involves making healthy choices and practicing healthful behaviors

Health Risks and Your Behaviors

Heredity, environment, attitude, behavior, media, and technology can all influence your health

Risk Behavior

Actions that can potentially threaten your health or the health of others

Infection

A condition that occurs when pathogens in the body multiply and damage body cells

Prevention

Taking steps to keep something from happening or getting worse

Cumulative Risk

Related risks that increase in effect with each added risk

Abstinence

A deliberate decision to avoid high-risk behaviors, including sexual activity and the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs

Lifestyle

The personal habits or behaviors related to the way a person lives

Health Information

Reliable information that can help people make important decisions that affect their health

Health Education

Providing accurate health information and health skills teaching to help people make healthy decisions

Healthy People

A nationwide health promotion and disease prevention plan designed to serve as a guide for improving the health of all people in the United States

Health Disparities

Differences in health outcomes among groups

Health Literacy

A person's capacity to learn about and understand basic health information and services and to use these resources to promote one's health and wellness