Health is Wealth. Good health is no luxury. Anything that influences or affects our health needs to be looked at closely. Research shows that various factors affect our health. These are termed determinants of health. They are:
Genetics: this is our biological makeup. Our Genes determine how healthy or otherwise we may be right from conception. Diseases like diabetes, arthritis are said to be hereditary.
Lifestyle: the way we live, our culture, behaviour, and habits have lasting effect on our health. For instance, someone given to smoking and alcohol is certainly going to reap the reward of his/her behaviour as much as someone who takes it upon him/herself to take in good food and balanced diet.
Environment: when talking of environment, we talking about the organ and system of the body and their harmonious functioning, as well as the physical, biological and psychological components to which an individual is exposed. Environment has a direct influence on the physical, mental and social well-being of an individual. A dirty environment causes sicknesses and diseases while a neat environment helps preserve good health.
Socio-economic conditions also play a major role in influencing health. They include:
- Education: Your level of education affects your health. Education is beyond being able to read and write, but being sufficiently knowledgeable enough to know and understand the importance of developing and maintaining necessary health habits, keeping a clean environment and more. Through education, you are able to make better health decisions.
- Income: The level of your income determines your access to medical care. High income earners usually have the luxury of good and extensive medical care as against low income earners.
- Employment: When you are gainfully employed, you have the opportunity of earning more and thus have access to health programmes and benefits like health insurance, better and healthier working conditions
- Access to health care: How easy it is for you to access health care in terms of infrastructure, resource, advice, and service, is a major determinant of your health.
One or all of these aforementioned factors play major roles on your general well-being. It’s important to note and take adequate steps to imbibe them as much as possible, and consequently improve your health.
