The difference between health and wellness isn’t black and white, but instead lies on a spectrum, and choosing to prioritize wellness is a daily decision. Western medicine focuses on treating specific symptoms, whereas Eastern cultures viewed ailment as a whole, and sought to restore balance within the Self. This holistic approach is one of the hallmarks of Integrative Medicine. This approach focuses on the three main components of health and well-being: physical, social, and environmental.
Integrative medicine bridges the gap between health and wellness
Many of the practitioners of integrative medicine offer a range of services. Depending on where you live, these may include massage therapy, mindfulness training, acupuncture, animal-assisted therapy, botanical and herbal consultations, and other health practices. Some of them may also recommend complementary and alternative medicines or supplementation. The goal of integrative medicine is to help patients improve their overall health and wellbeing.
The healing traditions of other cultures are fascinating to explore and can be applied in clinical practice. However, in order to practice integrative medicine effectively, practitioners must be able to understand the standard scientific language and learn about biochemistry and pharmacology. The same is true for complementary and alternative medicine. In addition to complementary medicine, integrative practitioners often integrate nutrition and mind-body practices. Listed below are a few of the benefits of integrative medicine.
Physical well-being
The difference between health and wellness is that while health represents your current state of good health, wellness is the state of being physically, emotionally, and socially healthy. Physical well-being is often the result of a person’s lifestyle, but it is also affected by a person’s surroundings. Living in an environment that promotes health is not only beneficial to your physical well-being, but also to your overall happiness and well-being.
In a more general sense, wellness is the active pursuit of activities that promote health and wellbeing. It is associated with a healthier lifestyle and involves making changes to reduce or eliminate risk factors that can have negative effects. Smoking and drinking alcohol are known risk factors for heart disease and lung cancer, and unprotected sex can spread sexually transmitted diseases. Physical activity can also be risky, as it can cause injury and damage.
Social well-being
While physical and mental health are often regarded as the main determinants of well-being, social well-being is equally important. Having meaningful connections with others increases a person’s sense of meaning and purpose in life. By fostering connections with others, we are more likely to feel connected and valued. The different types of well-being are interrelated, which means that enhancing social well-being can boost overall health and wellness.
Physical well-being is the primary concern of health care, while social well-being refers to the social and emotional aspects of our lives. While health concerns are related to specific diseases, wellness is defined as a lifestyle that promotes overall well-being. Wellness can be defined as a conscious choice to live a healthy lifestyle. Social and physical exercise are both important components of wellness, as are proper diet and sleep.
Environmental Factors
Various environmental factors influence individual health and wellness. They operate across several domains and may differ based on time and place. They may even interact with one another. For example, high levels of residential segregation may contribute to racial health disparities. Environmental factors such as physical and social inactivity may limit individual interaction and cause a higher incidence of injuries. Several studies have explored the relationship between environmental factors and health and wellness.
While there is considerable disagreement in the literature on environmental factors and health, we can still draw some general conclusions. In general, environmental hazards do not appear to be worse in the United States than in other high-income countries. Air pollution, for example, is not a major health risk for the U.S., despite being a major emitter. In addition, the volume of pollution does not necessarily reflect the cleanliness of resources.
