Is being Healthy Important?

Katlyn Locher
English 110: Essay #1
Professor A. Morris
November 7, y

Is Being Healthy Important?

Imagine running down the ditch bank of a hay field, breathing really hard and your heart beat is racing. The sun is in your eyes, sweat is running down your back and it’s not just because of the heat. These are the feelings I was having on my first day of running, two weeks ago. I set a goal to be physically active at least five days a week for my health class. After that first run, my thoughts were “Is being healthy important?”. Being healthy is important for your body to function correctly and increase your chances of living a longer life.
People believed being healthy meant being free of sickness or illness. Although sickness is defined as an unhealthy condition of body or mind, it isn’t the whole definition of healthy. Before the 1800’s, if you weren 't sick, you were deemed as one of the lucky ones. Influenza, bubonic plague and cholera epidemics were killing millions of people, but the ones who survived were known as the healthy and hardy few. During the mid to late 1800’s researchers gained a greater understanding of the sources and effects of drinking water contaminates. In 1855, obstetrician Dr. John Snow proved that cholera was a water borne disease by linking an outbreak of illness in London to a public well that was contaminated by sewage. (EPA, 2000) Because of this research, good hygiene was considered a part of being healthy. Cleanliness can prevent germs and other bacteria that cause sickness, from spreading to someone else
Another way healthy can be described is being in good physical shape. Physical health, includes your ability to do exercise outside of your normal activities in your daily life(ADL). The activities of daily living include eating, bathing, walking and dressing, which are important for normal existence in today’s society. This type of physical activity can consist of walking, jogging, running, riding a bike, lifting weights and even housework. In a study reported in 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, it concluded that the current amount of exercise adults ages 18-64 years need is 150 hours of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity each week. This sounds like quite a bit of exercise, but it really isn’t. Brisk walking is considered an aerobic workout because muscles are moving at a more rapid pace than normal walking. So just 30 minutes of brisk walking, five days a week is all you need to meet requirements if you are in this age range. Physical activity involves using your muscles, while boosting your metabolism and decreasing your chances of becoming depressed.
Also how healthy you are can be measured by how your body is preforming on the inside as well as the outside. Daily exercise contributes to your health conditions such as preventing heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, obesity and respiratory impairments. Also it can help you sleep better at night and prolong your life. According to analyses by a team from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, inactivity was associated with more than 9 million cases of cardiovascular disease in 2001, at an estimated direct medical cost of nearly $24 billion. (Ann Behav Med. 2004) CDC also did an analysis suggesting that because individuals who are physically active have significantly lower annual direct medical costs than those who are inactive, getting people to become more active could cut yearly medical costs in the U.S. by more than $70 billion. ( Physician and Sportsmedicine. 2000) This really opened my eyes to see the reality of why being healthy inside and out is so important.
The last meaning of being healthy is eating a balanced diet. Food provides the nutrients we need for activity and body maintenance. This is because our bodies cannot create all of the essential nutrients that it needs to function correctly. The most crucial nutrient is water. Up to 60% of the human body is made up of water. That is why humans can actually last longer without food than they can without water. For the most part, scientist say that on average, a person needs 8 cups of water per day. Water in large quantities can also pose a serious risk to your health, a condition that is known as hyponatremia. Along with that major nutrient, proteins are the most abundant substances in a human body. Proteins can be found in legumes (beans, peas, peanuts and soy products), grains (wheat, corn, rice, and oats) and nuts and seeds. Leafy green vegetables and broccoli also contribute valuable plant proteins. A healthy tip from Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 are to eat some of the protein foods, which include seafood, lean meat and poultry, eggs, beans and peas, soy products, and unsalted nuts and seeds. It sucks that some of the best tasting food is bad for you but avoiding those fatty and salty foods can help you stay balanced when it comes to your diet. The health benefits you obtain for being physically active are the same that you gain for having a balanced diet. Those benefits are preventing heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, obesity and respiratory impairments. That is why a balanced diet is important for good health.
As a final point being healthy is important for your body to function correctly and increase your chances of living a longer life. It may be hard to stay motivated but that is what family and friends are for.
References
Wang G, Pratt M, Macera CA, Zheng ZJ, Heath G. Physical activity, cardiovascular disease, and medical expenditures in U.S. adults. Ann Behav Med. 2004.
Pratt M, Macera CA, Wang GJ. Higher direct medical costs associated with physical inactivity. Physician and Sportsmedicine. 2000.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The History of Drinking Water Treatment, 2000. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/consumer/pdf/hist.pdf

References: Wang G, Pratt M, Macera CA, Zheng ZJ, Heath G. Physical activity, cardiovascular disease, and medical expenditures in U.S. adults. Ann Behav Med. 2004. Pratt M, Macera CA, Wang GJ. Higher direct medical costs associated with physical inactivity. Physician and Sportsmedicine. 2000. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The History of Drinking Water Treatment, 2000. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/consumer/pdf/hist.pdf