Lifestyle Factors Affecting Health and Wellbeing

The coronavirus pandemic has, at least, a glimmer of silver lining to it. It has prompted people to be serious about their health and wellbeing. Most people are now conscious about hygiene and other ways for avoiding disease.

Health is multi-factorial and complex. It is influenced by a number of things including a person’s age, family history of illness, employment, education, and living conditions. At the same time, a variety of lifestyle or health-related habits – the socalled behavioral factors – can have a major impact on a person’s health.

%ehavioral and social issues that impact on a person’s health include smoking, alcohol, poor diet leading to obesity or malnutrition, lack of physical exercise, sexual behavior and problems resulting from taking prohibited drugs.

Alcohol Intake. Alcohol is the most widely used moodaltering substance everywhere. Consuming alcohol gives pleasure to people and economic benefits to the society. However, when used irresponsibly, alcohol consumption can cause immense harm to drinkers, their families, their friends and their communities. Alcohol-intake control, therefore, is important for both the person’s health and the peace and safety of the community.

Smoking. It used to be that men were the typical smokers. They were mostly men in routine and manual occupations. Those men usually got into the habit drawn by the belief that smoking cigarettes enhanced their male image, as suggested by cigarette advertisements.

Nowadays, however, women smokers rival the number of men smokers. Aside from the “image” thing, they claim that smoking calms their nerves, assuages boredom, and distracts them from stressful thoughts.

%ut the health risks of smoking do not justify those cited “benefits” that the habit supposedly brings. The terrible health problems that often result from smoking do not only put the smokers themselves at high risk but also the people around them when they smoke.

Use of Prohibited Drugs. A survey in the United Kingdom shows that over one in three adults aged 16 to 59 years (36 percent of the population) have used illicit drugs in their lifetime. Cannabis is the drug most used, with approximately one in 15 adults (7 percent) admitting to taking the drug. These people have a serious problem. Their habit is responsible for between 1,300 and 1,600 deaths a year in the UK, and destroy thousands of relationships, families and careers.

In other areas, drug abuse has been a major trigger for crime and violence. It’s no wonder why governments everywhere are waging major fights against illegal drugs. While there are harsh penalties for drug use and drug, drug rehabilitation facilities are also being put up to get drug users out of the habit. Even the private sector has been actively investing in drug rehabilitation efforts. Body Weight, Diet and

Exercise. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is seen by experts as key in preventing premature mortality and a range of health conditions. A number of measures for the attainment of healthy lifestyles, including fruit and vegetable consumption, and levels of physical activity.

The increasing prevalence of obesity among adults and children is a major public health challenge. It is estimated that a good number of premature adult ailments and deaths could be reduced if the population maintained a healthy weight.

Sexual Health. The importance of strictly observing good and safe sexual activities cannot be overemphasized, especially with the surge of sexually-transmitted diseases nowadays. 6exually adults also need to be educated in methods of protection against and unplanned pregnancies.