The health of an individual is related to many factors, which are called determinants of health. Some factors, such as gender, age, genetics, we cannot directly influence, but some others we can. Lifestyle as one of the important determinants can promote better health, but it can also lead to the development of diseases. Lifestyle means e.g. what and how much we eat, how much we exercise, and the vices we have - smoking, drinking alcohol, etc. The way we think and act and the way we deal with stress are also important for health. Lifestyle is also influenced by our education, employment opportunities and financial situation.
For everyone's health, it is important that the individual is not isolated in the environment where he lives, but that he can be included in various interest networks that represent environments for social help and support. Lifestyle is not only shaped by the personal choices of the individual, because we cannot influence many factors by ourselves. An important role is played by the environment and the society in which we live, work, play, love, grow old... As individuals, it is easier for us to make healthy choices if the environment enables and encourages them. An example of a healthy environment is children's playgrounds, which strengthen and encourage children's motor skills, organized networks of bicycle paths, which are used by adults and families for travel and leisure. Creating such options in the living environment makes it easier to make healthy choices. If these options are not available, the individual chooses an unhealthy lifestyle more often and faster.
People's health directly affects the economy. A healthy individual is active and creative, does his work, overcomes common diseases quickly and in this way brings benefit to society.
Inequalities in health
Lifestyle is often related to education and income. People with higher education and higher incomes on average have healthier lifestyle habits and consequently better health, and vice versa, people with lower education and lower incomes live more unhealthily and get sick more often. Socio-economic status is one of the main causes of inequalities in health, which are unjust and preventable.
Prepared by: Tina Lesnik, NIJZ, 2016
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