Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 1 Understanding Your Health and Wellness 15 H ow would you describe your current health status? Are you in excellent health, or are you in poor health? Do you fall somewhere in between? If you have optimal health, you have the best health possible. You are in a state of excellent health and wellness in all areas of your life. This includes your physical, mental and emotional, and social health. A person’s health status normally lies somewhere between the extremes of poor and excellent. This is because most people experience one or more factors that put their health status somewhere in the middle of the health and wellness spectrum. Recall the examples of Hannah and Aiden from Lesson 1.1. Hannah passed her physical exam, but her health is far from excellent. Factors such as her stress, anxiety, and smoking habit negatively impact her health. On the other hand, Aiden has some physical health issues, but he does not smoke or drink, and he has a positive outlook on life. Hannah and Aiden each fall somewhere in the middle of the health and wellness spectrum. As you can see in Figure 1.6, there are factors that can increase or reduce your level of health and wellness. Some factors, such as genetic factors, are not within your control. Many factors, however, are within your control. For example, a person who smokes can improve health and wellness by quitting smoking. The choices you make now largely determine your level of health and wellness, both today and in the future. By taking responsibility for the factors you do control and making healthy, informed decisions, you can improve all areas of your health. Factors That Increase Health and Wellness Quitting smoking, drinking, or abusing drugs Eating more fruits and vegetables Being physically active Getting regular physical examinations Getting a flu shot each year Factors That Reduce Health and Wellness Having an illness or injury Getting inadequate sleep Texting while driving Having unhealthy relationships Being unable to manage stress Optimal Health and Wellness Premature Death High Level of Health and Wellness Low Level of Health and Wellness Health and Wellness Spectrum Moderate Level of Health and Wellness Figure 1.6 Your level of health and wellness can be plotted on a spectrum. The choices you make largely determine where you are on the spectrum. What kind of health do you have if you are at the top of the health and wellness spectrum?