What good health is
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Written by
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Monday, 02 June 2008 |
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Many of us have a negative way of looking at good health;that is, we appreciate it best by imagining what life would be without it. Good health, however, is more than freedom from disease or the ability to pass a medical examination. It includes a healthy mind 'as well as a healthy body. Total health is more, even, than the sum of is parts. You cannot give your impression of him
by saying simply, "He is in good shape." No, there is a kind of buoyancy about him that people who are less health do not have. Because of his general finess. he can face the realities of life with confidence. He can work hard; he look and feels well; he gets along with others. Your health and growth. You know the outward signs of physical growth-an increase in pounds
of weight and inches of height. However, there are signs of physical growth you do not see-for example, the changes in the actual structure of bones and tissues. The internal organs of your body are changing. Similar observations can be made about your mental growth. There are outward signs of it.Your behaviors and your attitudes reveal them. There are also signs that are not visible but which will be felt all the same. For example,your whole attitude toward yourself in the world in changing. The insights, or understanding, that bring about these chages are examples of your internal emotional growth. Attempts have been made to measure normal physical growth. Tables of weight for persons of different heights and ages have been devised
for this purpose.As you know,however,these measuring rods are not entirely satisfactory because they do not allow for individual differences. You know that being thin, or tall, or plump, or short does not really tell us whether or not a person is growing properly. A difference in the size of bones may account for a difference in weight. Moreover,all people simply do not grow at the same rates.If you really want to get an idea of your growth pattern, you must compare your present "dimensions" with those of, say, a year ago.In this way you establish a fair basis of comparisonl. There are also tests that attempt to measure emotional and intellectual growth.This kind of growth is dependent upon the experiences a person may have had.Since all people do not have the same experiences at the same time,you would not expect everyone to have the same rate of development.A painter who has just finished a picture knows that all of his strokes helped to fashion it.The preliminary sketches were as important as the last stroke. The habits you have formed and will form in the future also affect your growth-not just in length and in breadth,but in depth,also.You have been learning how to care for the different organs of your body.You know that certain habits will make it easier for you to care specifically for some organs. For example,you can protect your eyes by always reading in good light
There are some general health habits,however,which will protect your total health.Some are new in this unit.Some we have touched on before.As you meet them here,see how many you have definitely formed.
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