Description

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"Health is wealth", one who has good health can enjoy the pleasures of life. Healthy people make a healthy nation. Good health is essential for human welfare and sustained economic and social welfare. Traditionally good health is viewed merely as the absence of disease. Generally one who has strong built and muscular body is considered to be healthy. World Health Organization (WHO 1946) definition of health is "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". Health is composed of several dimensions including physical health, mental health, social health and emotional health. Today however the emphasis is on holistic health. Holistic health is based on the premise that an individual's health is affected by practically all aspects of an individual's life. Physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, environmental, genetic and social factors all interact to influence an individual's state of health Wuest and Bucher 1992]. In order to achieve optimal health, all these factors must be considered. Another concept closely related to holistic health is wellness. Wellness is a state of optimal well being. Wellness emphasizes each individual����'s responsibility for making decisions that will lead not only to the prevention of disease but to the promotion of a high level of health. Attainment of a healthy lifestyle is important for wellness.