Physical Well-being

We can keep our bodies healthy by exercising regularly. The human body is designed for movement and it needs exercise in order to function properly. Different kinds of exercise enable us to build up strength, suppleness, and stamina—the three main elements of physical fitness.

Exercise improves the efficiency of the lungs and cardiovascular system. It may also serve as an effective defense against heart disease. The heart is a muscle. It will perform less effi­ciently if it is not kept in good shape. This is true of all our muscles and joints. If used properly, they will remain in good condition. If neglected, they will deteriorate—even in young people.

In other ways, too, we can influence our own physical health, for better or worse, through the choices we make or the habits we form. For example, smoking cigarettes damages the lungs and causes cancer. We can choose between risking our health or not smoking. Similarly, too much exposure to the sun can damage the skin and even cause skin cancer. It takes just a simple decision to spend a bit less time in the sun or to wear protective clothing.

Physical well-being is also influenced by our eating habits. Overeating leads to overweight. And overweight can contribute to a variety of disorders, including high blood pressure and heart disease. Eating too little can also lead to health problems. We need a well-balanced diet in order to function properly. Teenagers, with their rapidly growing bodies, need to pay par­ticular attention to what they eat.

Mental Well-being

Mental health,like physical health, is more than just the absence of illness. People in good mental health feel comfortable with themselves and with others. They are able to love and be loved. They can work well and play well. And they can cope successfully with the normal problems and stresses of life.

Beyond this, people in good mental health are energetic and enthusiastic about life. They are relaxed, confident, and usually optimistic. They do not avoid life's problems. Rather, they see that coping with problems provides an op­portunity for personal development. They wel­come new experiences and are not afraid to ask for help when they need it.