Dimensions of Health

 The Five dimensions of Health

The Five-dimensional model of health includes physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual aspects. These five dimensions of health provide a full picture of health as a change in any dimension affects the others. This interrelationship between the dimensions of health is one of the key aspects that we need to understand.

(a) Physical Health: Physical health refers to the state of the body, and its ability to perform bodily functions. It refers to the aspects that are essential for keeping the body in the best condition. Physical health ranges in quality along a continuum where a combination of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease or hypertension are at one end and a person who is at optimum physical condition (think health not fitness) is at the other.

Physical Health

Physical health can affect the other dimensions of health as a decline in physical health can result in a decline in other forms of health. For example, a person who suddenly gets the flu is often isolated socially as to not infect others, struggles to focus in order to study or learn anything new, and may feel sad as a result of the isolation.

(b) Mental Health: Mental health refers to the cognitive aspect of health. Often mental health is linked to or includes emotional health. Let's distinguish the two. Mental health is more the functioning of the brain. Mental health refers to a person's mood often connected to their hormones. Mental health then includes many mental health issues such as alzheimers and dementia. It refers to the person's ability to use his/her brain and think. This may be to solve problems or to recall information. but the focus is on the cognitive aspect of the person.

Mental Health

Mental healthcare affects the other dimensions of the health. An increase in mental health can come as a result of increased physical activity, and good mental health can then lead to an increase in self esteem as mental performance improves. Greater self esteem them leads to more confidence in social situations and lead one to ask the larger questions about life leading to increased spiritual health.

(c) Emotional Health: Our ability to accept and cope with our own feelings, as well as emotions experienced by others is defined as emotional well-being. Emotions contribute to almost all aspects of our life, at times, even setting course of actions. It relates to our self esteem as well as our ability to control our emotions to maintain a realistic perspective on situations. The relationship between emotional and mental health is clear and as such some illnesses related to both, such as: depression and anxiety.

Emotional Health

Emotional health affects the other dimensions of health as a person with a good self esteem is more confident in social settings, makes friend quickly and often performs better in physical activity.

(d) Spiritual Health: Our good health is incomplete without being spiritually healthy. Being spiritual translates to the ability and desire to meaning and purpose of life. Spiritual health refers to our personal beliefs and values. There are no prescribed ways to attain spiritual well-being.

Spiritual Health

Spiritual health will very easily affect emotional and mental health as having a purpose in life can help us to apply ourselves for achieving goals. Having a purpose to life can also help people to maintain a proper perspective for life and overcome adversity. Often people who are spiritual, meet together regularly around their spiritual purpose, which helps to improve their social health.

(e)Social Health: Social supports are very important to people at every age, and they play a major role in one's health. They offer support of someone to talk to, which can help someone feel better or offer suggestions to a challenging situation.

Social Health

Social health affects the other dimensions of health in many ways. A bad social life can lead a person to question his/her purpose in life or feel isolated and unwanted. Such feelings can demotivate people from physical activity and lead them towards depression.