The United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, but it is far from the healthiest. Although life expectancy and survival rates in the United States have improved dramatically over the past century, Americans live shorter lives and experience more injuries and illnesses than people in other high-income countries. The U.S. health disadvantage cannot be attributed solely to the adverse health status of racial or ethnic minorities or poor people: even highly advantaged Americans are in worse health than their counterparts in other, "peer" countries. In light of the new and growing evidence about the U.S. health disadvantage, the National Institutes of Health asked the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to convene a panel of experts to study the issue. The Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries examined whether the U.S. health disadvantage exists across the life span, considered potential explanations, and assessed the larger implications of the findings. U.S. Health in International Perspective presents detailed evidence on the issue, explores the possible explanations for the shorter and less healthy lives of Americans than those of people in comparable countries, and recommends actions by both government and nongovernment agencies and organizations to address the U.S. health disadvantage.

Environmental Health is being challenged globally by a number of factors. The fast-paced development has led to several problems that are interrelated and variable, ill-defined, incomplete, challenging and difficult to resolve. Climate change, deforestation, urbanization, loss of biodiversity, STDs, zoonotic illnesses, and other concerns are examples of various factors when it comes to current global health emergencies. These issues are among the continuing challenges in global health because they are complicated, multidimensional, and significantly influenced by social, economic, and political variables. The 21st century faces unprecedented environmental changes, from climate change and urbanization to deforestation, biodiversity, loss of natural resources and habitat. Accelerated economic growth with high consumption level in developed countries and aspirations of developing countries to reach matching levels of growth are continuing to damage our planet. As Earth’s ecosystems are disrupted, we face the loss of ecosystem services and even the spread of zoonotic disease, COVID-19 is an example to it. Developing nations like India face even bigger challenge as India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world and will continue its rapid urbanisation and economic development in the coming decades. Unfortunately, this growth is at the cost of degrading environment health in the form of rising consumption and demand for energy, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and constraints on critical natural resources such as land, water and biodiversity harboured by them. Every problem has a solution and an old adage says “When there is a Will there is a Way”. This book not only discusses the reasons and effects of the environmental damage but also about the way out for a better and healthy environment and Environment Wellness. A collective effort, cooperation and commitment from all sectors of society needs to be thoroughly comprehend for Environmental Wellness.

The COVID-19 pandemic has re-ignited discussions of how architects, landscapes, and urban planners can shape the environment in response to disease. This challenge is both a timely topic and one with an illuminating history. In The Topography of Wellness, Sara Jensen Carr offers a chronological narrative of how six epidemics transformed the American urban landscape, reflecting changing views of the power of design, pathology of disease, and the epidemiology of the environment. From the infectious diseases of cholera and tuberculosis, to so-called "social diseases" of idleness and crime, to the more complicated origins of today's chronic diseases, each illness and its associated combat strategies has left its mark on our surroundings. While each solution succeeded in eliminating the disease on some level, sweeping environmental changes often came with significant social and physical consequences. Even more unexpectedly, some adaptations inadvertently incubated future epidemics. From the Industrial Revolution to present day, this book illuminates the constant evolution of our relationship to wellness and the environment by documenting the shifting grounds of illness and the urban landscape.

Contemporary society is affected by several non-communicable diseases mainly due to increasing inactivity. Hypokinetic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases are causing severe strain on the nations. Inactivity not only increases obesity but is also a direct factor for non-communicable diseases. Though exercise seems an effective therapeutic factor that could heavily influence the health status of individuals, physical wellness alone cannot achieve the desired health status for an individual. Other aspects like nutrition and emotional stress also play a vital role in securing proper health fitness and functional health among individuals. Even optimizing and securing financial and social wellness may also play a significant role in an individual's health status. Hence, individuals should regularly exercise, adopt proper nutritional programs that suit their daily physical routines, including exercise, and secure proper social and emotional wellness for experiencing excellent functional health and fulfilling their lives. Hence, a wellness lifestyle is a correct and apt requisite for individuals to maintain proper health and energy. Wellness lifestyle management is a complex and simultaneous process through which individuals try to achieve perfect balance among all the possible human domains like physical, nutritional, emotional, social, spiritual, environmental, financial, etc through conscious and scientific efforts. This book provides a comprehensive approach to achieving and maintaining an excellent wellness lifestyle in a very simple and also in a scientific way.

Environmental Psychology and Human Well-Being: Effects of Built and Natural Settings provides a better understanding of the way in which mental and physical well-being is affected by physical environments, along with insights into how the design of these environments might be improved to support better health outcomes. The book reviews the history of the field, discusses theoretical constructs in guiding research and design, and provides an up-to-date survey of research findings. Core psychological constructs, such as personal space, territoriality, privacy, resilience, stress, and more are integrated into each environment covered. - Provides research-based insight into how an environment can impact mental and physical health and well-being - Integrates core psychological constructs, such as coping, place attachment, social support, and perceived control into each environment discussed - Includes discussion of Kaplan's Attention Restoration Theory and Ulrich's Stress Reduction Theory - Covers educational settings, workplace settings, environments for active living, housing for the elderly, natural settings, correctional facilities, and more

Wellness Unveiled: Navigating the Core Elements of Health by Jude Hawthorne delves into the intricate tapestry of wellness, exploring how self-care and self-development are pivotal to achieving a balanced and fulfilling life. Drawing from psychological research and various health models, this book offers a comprehensive guide to understanding and implementing wellness in everyday life. Whether you're a healthcare professional, educator, or someone seeking personal growth, this book provides valuable insights into the physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of health. Discover how addressing individual needs and goals can lead to self-actualization and a more vibrant, purposeful existence.

Wellness is a contemporary concept with deep ancient roots promoting preventative and holistic activities, lifestyle choices, and salient architecture and urban design practices. Wellness Architecture and Urban Design presents definitions, an analysis of the wellness literature, and a brief history of the wellness movement. Specific planning and design strategies are presented citing examples worldwide and emphasizing the importance of wellness considerations at all scales of the built environment from rooms to cities. Both case studies offer fully integrated and comprehensive wellness design approaches creating resilient and life-enhancing wellness through each of the architecture and urban design scales. The book will be of interest to practitioners and students working in urban design, landscape architecture, architecture, planning, and affiliated fields.

Sensor Technologies: Healthcare, Wellness and Environmental Applications explores the key aspects of sensor technologies, covering wired, wireless, and discrete sensors for the specific application domains of healthcare, wellness and environmental sensing. It discusses the social, regulatory, and design considerations specific to these domains. The book provides an application-based approach using real-world examples to illustrate the application of sensor technologies in a practical and experiential manner. The book guides the reader from the formulation of the research question, through the design and validation process, to the deployment and management phase of sensor applications. The processes and examples used in the book are primarily based on research carried out by Intel or joint academic research programs. “Sensor Technologies: Healthcare, Wellness and Environmental Applications provides an extensive overview of sensing technologies and their applications in healthcare, wellness, and environmental monitoring. From sensor hardware to system applications and case studies, this book gives readers an in-depth understanding of the technologies and how they can be applied. I would highly recommend it to students or researchers who are interested in wireless sensing technologies and the associated applications.” Dr. Benny Lo Lecturer, The Hamlyn Centre, Imperial College of London “This timely addition to the literature on sensors covers the broad complexity of sensing, sensor types, and the vast range of existing and emerging applications in a very clearly written and accessible manner. It is particularly good at capturing the exciting possibilities that will occur as sensor networks merge with cloud-based ‘big data’ analytics to provide a host of new applications that will impact directly on the individual in ways we cannot fully predict at present. It really brings this home through the use of carefully chosen case studies that bring the overwhelming concept of 'big data' down to the personal level of individual life and health.” Dermot Diamond Director, National Centre for Sensor Research, Principal Investigator, CLARITY Centre for Sensor Web Technologies, Dublin City University "Sensor Technologies: Healthcare, Wellness and Environmental Applications takes the reader on an end-to-end journey of sensor technologies, covering the fundamentals from an engineering perspective, introducing how the data gleaned can be both processed and visualized, in addition to offering exemplar case studies in a number of application domains. It is a must-read for those studying any undergraduate course that involves sensor technologies. It also provides a thorough foundation for those involved in the research and development of applied sensor systems. I highly recommend it to any engineer who wishes to broaden their knowledge in this area!" Chris Nugent Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ulster

The focus of Wellness and Physical Therapy will be the application of wellness, particularly fitness wellness, to the practice and profession of physical therapy. The book addresses all items related to wellness in the Normative Model of Physical Therapist Professional Education: Version 2004, the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, and APTA’s Education Strategic Plan. The text consists of foundational knowledge, theoretical models, empirical research and application of material to physical therapy practice. Evidence-based practice is emphasized through a mixed approach of formalist and reader-response. An important text for all physical therapy students! Important Notice: The digital edition of this book is missing some of the images or content found in the physical edition.

Student wellbeing is foundational to academic success. One recent survey of postsecondary educators found that nearly 80 percent believed emotional wellbeing is a "very" or "extremely" important factor in student success. Studies have found the dropout rates for students with a diagnosed mental health problem range from 43 percent to as high as 86 percent. While dealing with stress is a normal part of life, for some students, stress can adversely affect their physical, emotional, and psychological health, particularly given that adolescence and early adulthood are when most mental illnesses are first manifested. In addition to students who may develop mental health challenges during their time in postsecondary education, many students arrive on campus with a mental health problem or having experienced significant trauma in their lives, which can also negatively affect physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing. The nation's institutions of higher education are seeing increasing levels of mental illness, substance use and other forms of emotional distress among their students. Some of the problematic trends have been ongoing for decades. Some have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic consequences. Some are the result of long-festering systemic racism in almost every sphere of American life that are becoming more widely acknowledged throughout society and must, at last, be addressed. Mental Health, Substance Use, and Wellbeing in Higher Education lays out a variety of possible strategies and approaches to meet increasing demand for mental health and substance use services, based on the available evidence on the nature of the issues and what works in various situations. The recommendations of this report will support the delivery of mental health and wellness services by the nation's institutions of higher education.