The Facts About Physical Health

Obviously, your physical health plays a significant role in overall happiness and well-being.

People who maintain good physical health are more likely to live longer lives, and tend to be more productive and able to retain physical independence well into old age. 

Learn more about the factors that contribute to physical health and how to become and stay physically healthy.

Physical health refers to how the body functions. Someone in good physical health has a body that functions as it should. For example, a person in good physical health has cells, tissue, muscles and organs, which function properly. This means a body physically fit enough to perform daily responsibilities and activities without problems.

Many different factors contribute to physical health—some of which are in your control and others that aren’t. 

To achieve and maintain good physical health, it’s necessary to eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet and to regularly engage in physical exercise. Additionally, effective stress management also promotes good physical health. 

Fortunately, these three very important factors of physical health are ones typically in the realm of our control. On the other hand, you cannot control whether you have a chronic illness or are genetically predisposed to certain diseases that could negatively impact your physical health.

If you want to boost your physical health, start by taking a few simple steps that can reduce your health risks in a big way. 

You can reduce your risk for disease and poor health by:

• Avoid drinking excess alcohol. The United States Department of Veteran Affairs suggests women should drink no more than one alcoholic drink per day and men should drink no more than two. However, research published in The Lancet Public Health earlier this year indicates there is no level of alcohol consumption safe for your health. If you find complete abstinence unrealistic, cutting the amount and frequency for your drinking can reduce some of the health risks that come along with regular alcohol consumption.
• Don’t smoke tobacco. Smoking tobacco puts you at risk for a wide variety of diseases, including cancer.
• Stay active. Regular physical activity is an important part of achieving and maintaining physical health. It’s particularly important, especially for people who may not get much activity during their daily routine. If you work an office job that requires you to sit for most of the day, consider a standing desk, taking breaks to go on walks and making time for physical activity after hours.

Consistency is essential when seeking long-term outcomes. That’s why it’s important to make habits out of daily actions and lifestyle choices that will help keep you healthy. 

Consider adopting the following healthy habits to promote your own physical health:

• Exercise regularly. Research shows overwhelming evidence for the significant health benefits of physical activity. Staying active promotes normal growth and development, reduces the risk of chronic disease and improves physical function, sleep and mood.
• Give your body and your brain quality fuel. Eating a healthy and nutritious diet is an essential key to being a good steward of your health. Aim to make your meals colorful and full of a variety of nutritious whole foods—fruits, vegetables and proteins such as lean meat, seafood and beans. When your body gets all of the nutrients it needs, it is better equipped to protect itself from inflammation and disease. Keeping a healthy diet can also benefit mental health.
• Maintain a healthy sleep schedule. Getting enough quality sleep is paramount to staying physically healthy. Adults are thought to need between seven to nine hours of sleep each night, although some may need as few as six or as many as 10. Regular, quality sleep improves mood, and helps your brain perform better, keeps your memory sharp and aids the body in fighting off disease.
• Take care of your teeth. You may not be aware of this but your oral health is deeply connected to overall health. Many serious diseases find their way into the body through the mouth, so keeping robust oral hygiene can go a long way toward protecting your well-being.

It’s important to note you can’t determine the quality of someone’s physical health by looking at them. For example, it’s a long-held, pervasive myth that to be thin is to be healthy and to be anything else is not.

In reality, the size and shape of a person has a lot to do with genetics, the speed of their metabolism, underlying health conditions and other factors. For instance, a person with a fast metabolism may be thin, but may not eat a nutritious diet, which could cause unseen health problems.

The only way to determine the quality of your health is to consult with your doctor—which means it’s a good idea to refrain from passing judgment on the health of others.

Regular physical activity is encouraged by experts because of its benefits for both physical and mental health, which have been borne out of extensive research. Regular physical activity is even linked to improved sexual health. In fact, with a little bit of creativity and effort, sex can be a good source of physical activity.

It has been found that even short bouts of exercise provide immediate benefits. Consistent exercise promotes good physical health, overall well-being and improved longevity. These benefits extend to men and women of all races, ages and ethnicities, as well as individuals who have a chronic illness or disability.

For the reasons mentioned above, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued national recommendations for physical activity.

The guidelines recommend the following amounts of physical activity per age group:

• Children and adolescents (ages 6 to 17). One hour or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily.
• Adults (ages 18+). Anywhere from 2.5 hours to five hours of moderate-intensity physical activity per week or 75 minutes to 150 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity. The guidelines specify for adults that some physical activity is better than none, and adults should aim to move more and sit less.

Healthy bones and muscles mean a healthier you. Here are a few tips to help you strengthen them.

Protect and strengthen your muscles by:

• Don’t ignore pain. If you feel any type of pull, discomfort or pain, don’t ignore it. Rest and consult with your doctor. Ignoring pain can worsen injuries and prevent you from resuming activity for longer.
• Warm up and cool down. Stretching before and after physical activity helps prevent muscle strain and keep your muscles from tightening too much before and after exercise.
• Work your way up. If you are just now starting to increase your physical activity, don’t come out of the gate working your muscles too hard or for too long. Start slow and gradually work your way up in intensity, duration, and frequency. This will help prevent injury and build up your stamina and confidence with working out.

Take care of your bones in the following ways:

• Avoid smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.
• Ensure your diet meets the recommended levels of calcium. For adults aged 19 to 50, that level is 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day, whereas women aged 51 and older and men aged 71 and older are recommended to consume 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day.
• Make sure you are consuming enough Vitamin D. A daily intake of 15 mcg is recommended for teens and adults up to the age of 70 when the amount should be increased to 20 mcg per day.
• Stay physically active.

What is an example of physical health?

Physical health refers to the body functioning how it's supposed to, without any problems. For example, a person in good physical health has cells, tissue, muscles and organs that function properly. This means a body that is physically fit enough to perform daily responsibilities and activities without problems.

What are 5 examples of physical health?

Bone health, muscle health, cardiovascular health, eye health and oral health are all components of physical health. Physical health is influenced by lifestyle choices, sleep habits, diet and the level of physical activity. Some factors that are not controllable such as genetics and chronic illness can impact health as well.

What are the 4 types of physical activity?

The four main types of physical activity are endurance, strength, balance and flexibility. It’s important to consistently engage in all four types of physical activity for maximum physical health benefits.