Regular, vigorous
exercise helps prevent
heart disease.248
Are you heAlthy? Before answering, think about what
you understand by “health.” It doesn’t just mean freedom from
disease. health is a measure of how sound and vigorous both
your body and mind are. A truly healthy person has a sense of
physical and mental well-being. our health is precious and
easily damaged. But there is much we can do to maintain it.
eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep all help keep
us healthy. Standards of health and health hazards are different
from place to place. In some parts of the world, many people have
serious health problems because they are poor, hungry, and
without clean drinking water. In other places, stress at work,
lack of exercise, and too much food bring their own health
problems, such as heart disease.
People also damage their health
through the use of alcohol,
tobacco, and dangerous drugs.ImmunIzAtIon
Good health includes preventing disease.
Immunization, sometimes called vaccination,
involves injecting the body with a vaccine.
this is a tiny dose of the infecting agent of
the disease, which has been specially treated
to render it safe. the vaccination provides
immunity, or protection, against the disease.
It is now possible to immunize against
diphtheria, polio, tetanus, measles, mumps,
rubella, tuberculosis, meningitis, and lots of
other illnesses. Immunization has completely
eradicated one disease—smallpox.KeePInG heAlthy
Food plays a large part in health. A healthy diet
includes fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish,
bread, eggs, and milk, but not too many fatty, salty,
or sugary foods. exercise keeps the heart strong
and prevents us from gaining too much weight.Better hygiene and a more
balanced diet could
eliminate much ill health in
developed nations.mentAl heAlth
A healthy mind is just as
important as a healthy
body. Stress, drug abuse,
physical disease, and
family problems, such as
divorce, can all damage
mental health. Specialist
doctors who treat mental
health problems are
called psychiatrists. other
sources of help include
drug therapy, counseling,
and self-help groups.A doctor or nurse usually
gives immunizations by
injection.PuBlIc heAlt h
Dirt and lack of hygiene damage health.
If not controlled, they can extend to whole
cities and affect large populations. the Great
Plague of london in 1665 is a good example.
During the 1840s, pioneers of public health
in europe worked to introduce clean water
supplies and good sewage systems. now,
international agencies like the World health
organization have been set up to monitor
public health.Health and fitness 248-
To reveal cancer cells on a
microscope slide, technicians stain
the tissue sample with colored dyes.heAlth checKuPS
through routine medical checkups,
doctors can detect health problems,
such as cancer, at the early stages,
when treatment is most effective.
checkups can also reveal
hereditary health problems—
diseases that pass from parents
to children.Observing a child at
play can help the
psychiatrist to make
an assessment.US_248_Health_Fitness_1.indd 248 21/01/16 5:00 pm