Health Is Wealth

“Health is wealth,” as a saying, has been around as long as we can remember. There exists a multitude of quotes from historical figures stating the importance of health and valuing it more than wealth. Herophilus, an ancient Greek physician, said, “When health is absent, wealth is useless.” Even though the saying has been so popular, we rarely make the effort to actually connect the relation between “health” and “wealth” factually and scientifically.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes health as “the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit; especially: freedom from physical disease or pain.” Health, in simpler terms, can be said to be the overall condition of a human being’s body and mind. One should always strive to live a healthy lifestyle. If you are strong and healthy, you can serve as an inspiration to others and show them how to live a healthy lifestyle. 

Individuals who aren't involved in a healthy lifestyle miss the benefits that come from such a style of life. They also suffer from a selection of health disorders like hypertension, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney problems, liver ailments, and many other life-threatening diseases. Unhealthy bodies get tired easily during work, which causes them to lose focus and be unproductive in their work. It can also cause them to lose motivation and self-confidence. Living healthy means living a disciplined life.  

We ought to take care of our health, and for this, we should always take an easy and balanced diet, as it is quite important for a healthy body and healthy mind. Also, we should exercise daily and go for long brisk walks. At first glance, the phrases "health" and "wealth" appear to have no connection, but if you give the relationship between the two considerable thought, it is simple to see that the two are interconnected. In today's modern world, leading a healthy lifestyle requires belonging to a higher social level. 

Anyone can be healthy if they take good care of their bodies by feeding them nutritious foods, engaging in regular exercise, and going to the doctor frequently for checks. Some people must pick between several necessities to survive, such as needing to decide between having access to healthcare or suitable accommodation. This has a significant impact on the overall well-being of an individual. 

Higher socioeconomic level individuals who have the financial means to buy goods that promote healthy living. However, since they lack the resources to eat the nutritious foods their bodies require, people in lower socioeconomic levels are frequently compelled to adopt unhealthy lifestyles. Not only can a person's financial situation have an impact on their physical health, but it also has an effect on their mental health, which can result in worry, anxiety, and unhealthy habits.

There is plenty of scientific evidence that suggests a scientific connection between having access to wealth and having good health. The International Development Target Strategy Paper (1999) of DFID notes that the case for investing in health has been further strengthened by a growing body of evidence that better health contributes to greater economic security and growth. At the micro-level, better health means less time and expense invested in caring for ill family members, improved physical and intellectual development, and higher productivity at work.

 Furthermore, there is significant evidence from Africa, stemming from a study done by Griffin & Shaw in 1995, which shows that families with low income are more than willing to pay for health insurance. Illness is one of the most important emergencies faced by any household. However, the poor are denied access to the quality service they need by most health care providers.  This clearly shows the disparity between a family with wealth and one without in regard to accessing quality health care. \

Similar conclusions can be drawn in the case of Nepal, where privatized healthcare services cost significantly more than what those same services cost at a government-run hospital. Such pricing strategies of the hospitals implicitly block citizens of low socioeconomic status from accessing the healthcare services at these hospitals. It also forces them without any other option than going to a government-run hospital, where the facilities are not usually up to standard. 

To conclude, the saying “health is wealth” has grown figuratively and literally into reality. People with access to wealth have access to quality healthcare and can devote their time and energy to wealth-producing activities. While those 

without wealth are mostly denied quality care, and it is all doom and gloom for them.