【Are there people who are healthy even when ill? A physical therapist discusses the meaning of 'true health'】

【🧍‍♂️Introduction】

💭'I want to be healthy,' 'Health is the most important thing'

We say these things often, but if someone asks,
'So, what is health?', don't you feel a bit puzzled?

This is content I want everyone to see until the end🦕

What is health...

'Not having a cold? Being at an average weight? Not going to the hospital?'

Actually, the 'health' we think of might be
a very narrow and somewhat wasteful definition.

As a physical therapist who has interacted with thousands of people,
I have come to think this way.

👉 Health is not 'not being ill.'
👉 True health is 'whether you are living life as yourself.'

I feel that the word 'health' has a much deeper
and more multifaceted meaning.

This time, I will talk about'the definition of health as I see it',
while incorporating my clinical experience as a physical therapist,
in an easy-to-understand way.

【📖 What is the definition of health?】

First, let's check the basic definition.

🔹Definition according to Kojien
'Having no abnormalities in the body or mind, and functioning normally. Also, that state.'

🔹Definition according to the WHO (World Health Organization) (1946)
'Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.'

👀 Looking at this, it is considered that health is not just 'not being ill,' but
'a state of being fulfilled in all aspects of body, mind, and social connections.'

However, in our daily lives, we think

'Feeling unwell = not healthy'
'If you are not ill, you are healthy'

We tend to talk about health with a
verysuperficial understanding.

【🏥 Are you 'unhealthy' if you have an illness or injury?】

While working in hospitals, I have
faced many people who are ill or have
sustained injuries.

However, what I felt there was

⚠️'Unhealthy because you are ill'
⚠️'Unhappy because your body doesn't move'

This one-sided formula
does not necessarily apply.

For example,

・People who keep smiling even with cancer
・People who enjoy time with their grandchildren even with a fracture
・People who overcome a cerebral infarction and work hard at rehabilitation

Seeing these people, I think:

'Health is not the absence of illness, but being able to live as yourself.'

That is...

【🧍 The impact of mental health on the body】

Conversely, there are people who are physically healthy but
mentally unstable.

✅ Feeling unmotivated for no reason
✅ Poor sleep quality and constant fatigue
✅ Persistent stomachaches or headaches due to relationship stress

Even if these people have
no abnormalities in their test results,

'Can they really be called healthy?' I wonder.

Even among my patients,
there are many cases where, even if the surgery was successful and there are no physical problems,

'They cannot look forward'
'They cannot set goals'

which leads to
a slower recovery.

🧩 Ultimately, the mind and body are connected.

If your state of mind is good, it has a positive effect on your body's recovery.
The reverse is also true.

【🎯 Health means 'living true to yourself'】

The essence of 'health' as I see it is

✨ 'a state where you can realize what you want to do, in your own way'✨

I truly believe it comes down to this!

Even if you have physical limitations,

even if there are things you can no longer do due to aging,

'This is what I want to do'
'This is my happiness right now'

Being able to say that clearly is what I consider to be health and the form of happiness.

That said, the definition of health varies from person to person.
Even in medical settings, it changes significantly depending on one's position and perspective.

Because we live in an era where individuals decide their own treatment methods and choices,
I believe having 'your own definition of health' is necessary to take control of your life.

Please use this article as a reference 🙇🏼‍♂️

【🧓 5 common traits of 'healthy people' I've seen from my experience】

Having actually interacted with many people in clinical practice,
I found that those with good prognoses and those who remain youthful forever
had clear common traits.

These are elements that support health itself, and

conversely, by having this mindset,

it becomes easier to maintain physical health as well.

【🌱 Let's adopt a perspective of cultivating health】

Health is not just something to maintain, but also something to
cultivate.

・Soaking up the morning sun
・Eating delicious meals
・Laughing with someone
・Having time to be truly immersed in something

These are not special things, but small accumulations that can be made through the choices of this very moment today.

🗓️ Future health is built by today's habits.

【🔚 Conclusion: What does health mean to you?】

🔚 What does 'health' mean to you?

💬 Being able to work energetically?
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Sitting around the table with family?
🎨 Being able to have time to immerse yourself in hobbies?

Each of these is a form of 'health' that is unique to you.

I think it's fine for everyone to have their own answer.

I would be happy if you could let me know in the comments 😊

The 'health' you think of
will surely be an insight for someone else.

On my note, I will continue to share information about the 'body,' 'mind,' and 'lifestyle,' and I would be happy if we could think about
'true health' together🌿

Please feel free to like and follow, you are welcome to do so anytime☺️

🏷️#Health#PhysicalTherapist#Illness#DefinitionOfHealth#Hobbies