What is Health?

And really, what does it mean to be healthy? Most will answer: not to get sick. It seems so, but not quite. The most common mistake is to take into account only the physical condition. And there is also mental, psychic, spiritual - these are also components of such a broad concept as health.

Even as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), it's not just the absence of disease. Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. According to the WHO, a person's health is determined by 50% of lifestyle, 20% by the environment and 10% by the health care system.

Common problems such as high blood pressure, being overweight, and high blood glucose are leading to an increase in noncommunicable diseases. Cancer, respiratory, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are responsible for more than 70% of all deaths worldwide.

Prevention of noncommunicable diseases largely depends on the people themselves. It includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, as well as seeking help in a timely manner, regular medical examinations and following the recommendations of doctors.

An important component of a healthy lifestyle is adherence to the principles of a healthy diet.

The main factor in improving health is physical activity, which includes swimming, Nordic walking, dancing, games, and sports. At the same time, the most affordable and least expensive way to increase physical activity is walking, which has practically no contraindications among various health groups and is a universal means of preventing diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Doctors unanimously advise you to walk daily at a pace that is comfortable for you. And according to the WHO classification, then:

- Less than 5,000 steps per day is characterized as a sedentary lifestyle;

- 5,000 to 7,499 steps per day are considered ineffective, especially if there are no other physical activities;

- 7,500 to 9,999 steps per day, including some physical activity, is considered partly an active lifestyle;

- 10,000 or more steps per day are characterized as an active lifestyle of a person.

Returning to the fact that 50% of a person's health depends on him/herself, it makes sense to remember that timely prevention, a healthy lifestyle, a responsible attitude to oneself and others, the choice of goods and services that do not harm health and the environment, are all necessary conditions for maintaining health and longevity, preventing diseases.