WORLD HEALTH DAY 7th April 2023

Marking the 75th anniversary of the WHO, the theme of World Health Day 2023 is “Health for All”.

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

World Health Organisation Constitution

Useful tips for preventing ill-health

1. Physical Health

By making healthy behaviors part of your daily life, you can prevent conditions such as high blood pressure or obesity, which raise your risk of developing the most common and serious chronic diseases. Practice healthy behaviors such as;

• Balanced diets. This includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, low-fat dairy products, limits added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium.
• Get Regular Physical Activity. This can be as simple as walking, it should be performed at least twice a week.
• Avoid Drinking Too Much Alcohol. Excessive drinking can lead to high blood pressure, various cancers, heart disease, stroke, and liver disease.
• Get Screened. To prevent chronic diseases or catch them early, visit your doctor regularly for preventive services and routine checkups.
• Take Care of Your Teeth. Oral diseases—which range from cavities and gum disease to oral cancer—cause pain and disability. Drink fluoridated water, brush with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, and floss daily. Visit your dentist at least once a year.
• Get Enough Sleep. Adults should get at least 7 hours of sleep daily. And children should get at least 10 hours of sleep depending of their age.
• Know your family history. If you have a family history of a non-communicable disease, you may be more likely to develop that disease yourself. Share this with your doctor, who can help you take steps to prevent these conditions or catch them early.

2. Mental Health

Our mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. It also consists of healthy brain functions to improve cognitive abilities, memory, and intellect which increases productivity at work and home.

Our mental health is shaped by our:

• Biology: our genes play a small role in our mental health.
• Environment: the places we live and work, and our relationships.
• Experiences: the things that happen to us, especially in early life.

Practices that foster mental wellness are:

• Performing problem-solving activities like crossword puzzles and sudoku to stimulate the thinking functions of the brain.
• Talk about your feelings. Just being listened to can help you feel supported and less alone with any problems you’re going through.
• Eating nourishing foods. A balanced diet can improve your sense of well-being and your mood.
• Avoiding unhealthy habits of smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol and ingesting recreational drugs that impede brain health
• Care for others, whether that’s working on relationships with family, letting go of old grudges or volunteering.

3. Social Health

Social health is the ability of individuals to form healthy and rewarding interpersonal relationships with others. Developing deep meaningful connections with family, close friends and the surrounding environment aids in boosting social wellness.

Good social health looks like:

• Adapting to social situations.
• Staying true to yourself in all situations.
• Balancing your social and personal time.

Moreover, during the tough times in life, a person’s close social circle helps in resolving demanding issues and removes the burden of having to go through the testing phase all alone.

Effective ways to bolster social wellbeing are:

• Meeting with family and close friends regularly, talking to them in person and sharing all happy times as well as sad, difficult circumstances at home, work and life
• Staying away from toxic relationships and walking away from people who only bring negativity in life, even if they were once close friends or relatives
• Getting involved in volunteer activities in the neighborhood like in homeless shelters, schools, hospitals, which help establish a friendly and healthy connection with the society and community

PLEASE JOIN US ON A JOURNEY TO ACHIEVING HEALTH FOR ALL.