While good health used to mean the absence of disease, the term has been expanded to include a person’s mental and social well-being as well. Health is about the physical functioning of the body and includes aspects of nutrition, movement, and the absence of acute or chronic diseases. In contrast, wellness focuses on an active lifestyle and the achievement of a person’s full potential. The key difference between the two concepts is how they views aging.
Physical
Understanding the physical health and wellness difference is important to achieving optimum overall health. Both physical health and wellness require healthy food and adequate sleep. Physical wellness also promotes knowledge and habits related to the maintenance of good health. It is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and will enhance your quality of life. Physical health includes many aspects and it is the foundation for a healthy lifestyle. Here are some key differences between physical health and wellness.
Mental
There are many benefits to achieving and maintaining good mental health. The World Health Organization and the U.S. Surgeon General have outlined the characteristics of a flourishing life as being mentally healthy, resilient, and functional. In addition, mental wellness encompasses positive relationships, the ability to contribute to society, and the ability to recognize one’s own potential. These characteristics are also reflected in other areas of health, such as a sense of purpose, autonomy, and positive relationships.
Social
There is a distinct difference between social health and wellness. While social health refers to the quality of social relationships and physical activity, health focuses on an individual’s overall well-being. While health concerns generally relate to specific diseases, wellness is concerned with the way we live our lives. The term wellness refers to consciously making choices that improve our overall health. The World Health Organization defines health as complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing.
Spiritual
There’s a difference between spiritual health and physical wellness. The latter refers to a sense of purpose and meaning in life. There are many different ways to gain spirituality, from being in a relationship with a higher power or finding peace in nature. The difference is important to understand when deciding about your personal spirituality. Spiritual health begins within, but can extend outside of your life, too. The definitions of spiritual health and wellness are a bit broader than a simple comparison between the two.
Integrative
Integrative health and wellness are an approach to health care that focuses on treating the whole person rather than treating individual symptoms. Integrative health professionals work closely with clinical staff to provide treatments and therapies that promote wellness. They focus on lifestyle factors, including nutrition and stress reduction. For example, a health coach may focus on stress reduction or mindfulness. A physical therapist may focus on muscle relaxation, while a naturopath might focus on reducing the effects of stress and anxiety.
Preventive
The benefits of preventive health and wellness services are well documented. Preventive care is critical for many reasons, from preventing the onset of serious disease to reducing emergency room costs. Moreover, if performed early, preventative care can save insurance companies a substantial amount of money. A study found that a 90 percent increase in preventive care coverage would have resulted in two million more people living longer in 2006.
