What is Quality of Life | Dimensions of Health | AOLCC

Health has a significant impact on our quality of life, and Canada puts health care as one of its top priorities. Statistics show that it is one of the largest expenses in our country. The OCED reports the average country spends about 8 percent on healthcare. Canada’s healthcare system spends over $8,000 per person on healthcare costs. That is over 12 percent of our national gross domestic product or GDP.

For such an important aspect of our lives, we need to have the strongest system. As our country puts the pandemic behind us and looks ahead, we seek to evaluate the strength of the current healthcare system. For those looking to begin a career in healthcare, the future is bright. Canada’s healthcare system requires tons of new workers. That includes medical or dental assistants, personal support workers, or receptionists. You can find out more by getting in touch with the Academy of Learning and requesting info on our health programs. But what is quality of life? And how do health care workers help us improve it?

What is quality of life?

This topic comes up more often than we realize, but what is quality of life? According to Britannica, it is the degree an individual is healthy, comfortable, and able to take part in or enjoy life events. We all seek to live happy, healthy lives with our loved ones. One of the aims of health care is to improve our quality of life. Health care workers do this by providing care for our physical and mental health. This way, workers can improve others’ lives and build a stronger community.

Narrowing down what we mean by health can be difficult. We measure health by more than just our physical state. It is the absence of illness or injury and includes both our mental and physical condition. There are different factors of health.

Aspects of health

The Canadian government includes different factors that contribute to health. These include:

• Income and social status
• Social support
• Education
• Employment
• Environment
• Culture

All these dimensions of health play a role in a healthy lifestyle and the quality of life of Canadians. And while no one has a perfect life, and we all face challenges, our overall health can pull us through these challenges. For example, if you were to lose your job, it would add stress and anxiety to your life. But if you have strong social support and a good education, you will be able to make it through the tough times and find a new job. In this way, our health directly impacts our quality of life.

Compared with the rest of the world, Canada’s life expectancy rate is high. In fact, we’re in sixth place globally. The average person in Canada can expect to live to over 80 years of age.

What is well-being?

Health and wellbeing are directly linked. Well-being is a holistic approach to health. It is the presence of positive emotions, absence of negative emotions and satisfaction with life as felt by the patient. When someone refers to their well-being, they often mean both their physical and mental state.

Well-being can affect your health. When you experience stress, anxiety, etc., it impacts your physical health. You may have trouble sleeping, which is a physical symptom of your stress. However, a lack of sleep can lead to more health issues, including high blood pressure and heart problems. In other words, it is all interconnected.

Tips to improve health and wellbeing for the body

Staying healthy requires effort and commitment. There are many good ways to improve your personal wellness, including:

1. Diet

Most of us understand what a good diet looks like: Lots of fruits and vegetables and less junk food. What we eat fuels our body and is one of the vital dimensions of health. If you’re putting good things into your body, you can expect it to work well. But if you’re prone to eating fast foods or a diet with a high level of salt or sugar, your body won’t be able to do its job. Your personal well-being will suffer.

2. Connection

Our social lives play a major role in the wellness of the body. Relationships help us feel cared for and supported. They give us a feeling of purpose and belonging. These connections can also promote healthy choices. For example, if we choose to take a walk with a loved one, we enhance our physical and mental well-being.

3. Exercise

Moving our bodies is just as important as feeding them well. These dimensions of health connect because if you are eating the right foods, you’ll have enough energy to engage in physical activities. Being active can reduce negative feelings like stress and depression. It can also help you sleep better and maintain a good body weight.

4. Learning

Did you know that staying sharp mentally can contribute to your health? Learning new things can increase your confidence, self-esteem, and sense of purpose. You can expand your knowledge by taking a class either in-person or online. It may even help you grow your social network and connect with others.

5. Generosity

Giving back can cultivate positive feelings, which feed into our well-being. Whether you donate your time or money, being part of something bigger helps us feel connected. It also provides a feeling of purpose. With the number of organizations looking for help, it should be easy to find a cause you’re interested in.

6. Avoid vices

Temptation is all around us, but if you want to improve wellness for the body, you’ll need to avoid vices like drinking and smoking. But it’s not just what we put into our bodies that can prevent us from experiencing good health. Make it a habit to get away from your screen each day and get outside. Being around nature and in the sunlight can release endorphins. This is our body’s “happy chemical” that can give you a strong sense of well-being.

Interested in a career in the health field?

You may be wondering if health care is the right job path for you. Consider this – health care workers make a difference in the lives of others and help give them a better quality of life. Health care workers take care of their communities’ physical and mental health. For example, a Community Support Worker connects at-risk members to the type of support they need. Personal support workers assist elderly or disabled clients with everyday activities. Medical Receptionists are also vital because they are the bridge between a person and their healthcare.

The forecast for careers in Canada’s health care system is strong. There will be an increase in job openings but a shortage of workers to fill those roles. That means, if you want a career with a secure future, the health field is the perfect place. If you want to learn more about health and wellness careers, check out our health and wellness courses. By working in healthcare, you can make a positive impact on others’
lives and have a rewarding career.