We all know staying fit and active as we age is important, but have you ever stopped to consider just exactly what “health and wellness” really means? Although the words seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly, the difference is important.
Wellness mainly focuses on preventive care. The overall idea is that if people are getting regular checkups, taking their prescribed medications, and keeping up with a regular exercise routine and a healthy diet, health problems can either be entirely prevented or at a minimum, managed before they become particularly expensive, or life threatening.
Health is defined as the state of being free from illness or injury; a person’s mental or physical condition. I am sure the majority of us have “good health” as a goal, but wellness would be the way we get there. Although we all strive to be healthy, it is not always up to us how our bodies react. Things like high cholesterol and blood pressure are largely genetic. There are certain diseases people are born with, such as heart disease, or maybe a predisposition to diabetes, and there is nothing we can do about these things, but wellness is a choice.
We make the choice to exercise regularly, or quit smoking, or choose foods we know are good for us. We can visit a therapist when our mental state requires it. Wellness is the way we work for better health, and take control of the aspects of our mind and body that we do have control over. Although it is highly unlikely any of us will ever be in “perfect” health, if we make the effort to take care of ourselves earlier in life, it will likely help us live a longer healthier life, and save on health care costs as we age.
There are so many great low cost Medicare plans to choose from that will help you live your best life! We are here to help you do just that!