There are many people who are suffering from various chronic illnesses that affect, not only their health but many aspects of their lives. On top of that, the current events have been the constant source of stress and fatigue for many since the past year started.
Because of the increasing need for holistic wellness, it’s not wise to only focus on the effects of these stress-inducing events or diseases on a person’s physical health alone.
Holistic health is the method of recognizing and acknowledging that illnesses could affect the wholeness of a person, not just their physical health.
What is holistic wellness?
Holistic wellness is caring for a person's whole being - physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs.
It’s based on the traditional concept that the human body works like a machine. These factors are interdependent and could affect one another if one of them isn’t working right. Examining their physical health, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs contributes to improved health.
If someone is suffering from a tension headache, a health practitioner isn't only going to prescribe pain medication. Instead, he'll also explore the psychological and emotional factors that could’ve influenced it in the first place.
By doing this, achieving holistic wellness is possible.
Social determinants of health
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are factors that affect a person’s quality of life, health, and wellness. This is what they call social determinants of health (SDH).
This includes age, income, social status, education, healthcare access, and where they live.
As people get older, the body tends to deteriorate as well. This is because aging affects physical and cognitive functions that could limit daily activities. And so they’re more prone to medical illnesses compared to other age groups.
Many experts consider having greater income and high social status to be one of the most critical determinants of good health.
A constant source of income and secured job means that people worry less. They have better access to health services, able to afford healthy food, and avoid worrying about financial problems.
There is much evidence that the neighborhood where a person lives have effects on health as well. Living in an unsafe area with unclean water or an environment could pose health and safety risks. This is associated with low income or unstable employment.
More and more people are turning to holistic wellness to help them improve not only their physical health but the overall quality of their life.