Holistic health is a natural way to achieve optimum health
Holistic health is an approach to wellness that simultaneously addresses all-encompassing aspects of wellness
Championing Holistic Mental Health and Well-Being
At Blu-merging Health Promotions, we champion a unique approach to mental health and well-being. Through promoting our belief in holistic care and health promotions, we hope to foster holistic care agenda tailored to the individual's needs, opposed to one-size-fits-all healthcare model. Through our efforts and campaigns, we hope to develop and enhance the belief that care recipients are seen and treated as a unique entity, deserving of equal attention and personalised services to meet their well-being and mental health needs and health objectives.
The Quest for Wellness and Staying Well
Achieving a holistic state of wellness is a formidable task, particularly for people with obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and mental illness, who may find both themselves and healthcare practitioners' focus being on one primary health problem and not the broader interest of health concerns-ie mental and long-term health conditions.
Case Study: Steve has Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and depression and requires a holistic care plan, which includes prescribed medication, dietary intervention from the NHS dietician, and an exercise program. Nonetheless, given his average GP appointment is 10 minutes, it's nearly impossible for the GP to write a holistic healthcare plan based on Steve's needs. However, as well as the usual medical intervention, the GP prescribed Steve self-help materials on equally important topics that Steve found beneficial for his wider healthcare needs.
Note: The case study demonstrates that a holistic health approach is necessary for wider health improvements and can be simple, as utilizing self-help and psychoeducation, particularly when there are wider health and wellbeing priorities.
What is Holistic Health?
Holistic health is a comprehensive approach to well-being that considers an individual’s functioning within their environment. It goes beyond focusing on specific conditions or disabilities and instead addresses all aspects of a person's life that can impact their health.
Holistic health concerns both adults and children, as they too can experience illness and mental health problems. Mental health issues among young people are on the rise. According to a 2023 mental health study, around 20.3% of children aged 8–16 and 23.3% of 17–19-year-olds experience mental health difficulties, which is a slight increase from the previous year.
Children, particularly young girls, face unique pressures related to personal appearance, education, peer pressure, and dating, which can lead to anxiety, self-harm, and eating disorders. On the other hand, teenage boys may struggle more with substance abuse, risky behaviours, and anger management. While services like Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) exist, holistic care can be enhanced by collaborating with local youth-based services and involving parents, teachers, and carers in the care plan.
Global Health Priorities: Tackling Major Health Concerns
Global health priorities, based on Google data search, reveal the following top concerns:
- Cardiovascular disease
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- Anxiety and depression
- Some types of cancer
In the UK, one in three adults has high blood pressure, with 31% of men and 26% of women affected. More than five million undiagnosed individuals live in England alone. While the causes of hypertension are not always known, it remains a major cause of premature death. The UK Department of Health estimates that high subjective well-being can increase life expectancy by 4 to 10 years. People who smoke, however, experience lower well-being levels, with a causal link between smoking and diseases like cancer, strokes, COPD, and cardiovascular disease.
Hypertension, often referred to as the "silent killer," affects millions of people without any obvious signs or symptoms. If you suspect you have high blood pressure, it’s important to consult with your GP or visit an A&E department for a check-up.
Association Between Lifestyle and Well-Being
The British Department of Health considers an increase in the number of portions of fruit and vegetables consumed, an average body weight, and meeting physical activity guidelines to be all associated with high levels of well-being.
Building the Pillars of Holistic Health and Wellness
Being well gives each person the ability to reach their personal goals. When your body, mind, and soul are cared for holistically, you can pursue and meet your goals with less resistance.
Dr. Bill Hettler's Wellness Wheel
Dr. Bill Hettler, co-founder of the National Wellness Institute (NWI), created an interdependent model for the six dimensions of wellness. The wellness wheel allows people to focus on their health by identifying areas needing improvement and setting priorities for change.
How the Wellness Wheel Can Improve Care
The wellness wheel strengthens each of the six pillars and provides an excellent foundation for living a healthy life. It also helps healthcare providers understand the needs of their patients, guiding them to implement a holistic approach.
The Role of Physical Wellness in Holistic Health
Physical wellness is an integral part of overall health and fitness. In addition to regular physical activity, it includes proper sleep hygiene, and a healthy diet.
Sleep Hygiene Tips for Better Health
Adults should get at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night. To achieve this, individuals can follow these sleep hygiene tips:
- Incorporate relaxing activities before bed
- Follow a wind-down routine with dimmed lights, a warm bath, calming music, and light stretching
- Block out unnecessary light and noise
- Avoid watching TV in the bedroom
- Limit social media use two hours before bedtime
- Avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine before bedtime
Nutrition
Regular research on healthy eating habits reports that 76 percent of adults did not meet the recommendations for daily fruit intake. Even more—87 percent—of adults did not meet daily vegetable requirements, even achieving the suggested five cups a day becomes difficult. Nonetheless, supplementation can help restore the necessary nutrients in the body to appropriate levels. Strengthening this pillar requires careful attention to diet and appropriate supplementation, and not forgetting life's stressors and time commitments can make these tasks difficult. Still, nutritional improvements will help maintain the six holistic health and wellness pillars. Though nutrition is intimately tied to physical Health, it is essential and must be represented by its pillars. This is especially true because nutrition must be personalised based on age, sex, activity level, and body chemistry. A balanced diet requires consuming nutritional foods that feed your body and mind. The NHS recommends that adults fill half their plates with fruits and vegetables during meals. The other half should be dedicated primarily to grains, a modest portion of protein, and a side of dairy. Diversifying your plate with appropriate amounts of each food group will help you acquire the necessary macronutrients for day-to-day energy, muscle growth and recovery, and other bodily processes.
Healthy Eating
The NHS recommends that we consume a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables. Diversifying this portion of your plate will ensure you get the micronutrients your body needs. Pay attention to portion sizes to help with weight maintenance and adherence to MyPlate guidelines. Replace refined grains with their whole counterparts to ensure you get enough fibre.
Emotional
Emotional wellness encompasses the ability to navigate your feelings. This means identifying, assessing, and effectively sharing those feelings with others or a pet. Why is this important? Life's ups and downs can take you on an emotional rollercoaster. Nevertheless, the better you understand, process, and manage those feelings, the smoother the ride.
Tips:
- Create a list of those who support you and how best to contact them. When the going gets tough, asking for help can be difficult. Having this quick reference at hand may make reaching out much more accessible.
- Talk to a friend, or seek out a therapist or counsellor. Often, a third party's insight can help you navigate rough worries.
- Seek out what staff support is available at work, as some employers often have a range of extra benefits works don't always get to know about.
- Journaling is an easy way to identify and process your feelings, especially if you are uncomfortable sharing them out loud. It is always a great way to measure your progress or growth. Reminders of your past obstacles and successes are only a few pages away.