Sub-Health or Suboptimal health status (SHS) is defined as a state characterized by some disturbances in psychological behaviors or physical characteristics, or in some indices of medical examination, with no typical pathologic features. It is commonly refers to an individual experiences physical, emotional, or mental distress, which may not be serious enough to be classified as a disease or sickness, but is still significant enough to affect his/her daily life and negatively impact an individual’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Sub-Health problem is increasing worldwide and it is much associated with modern urban lifestyle. Signs and symptoms considered indicators of SHS include aches, chronic fatigue, indigestion, sleep disorders, congestion, nervousness, distraction, nausea, and poor mood.
Common Sub-Health Situations
While many of these sub-health situation may be inevitable, in certain extend, due to environment and work place condition, others can be improved by individual’s own effort. Here we group them into several categories:
Environmental factors:
Personal habits:
Urban living lifestyle:
- Poor posture
- Dehydration
- Physical inactivity
Working conditions:
- Poor workplace ergonomics
- Back pain
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Chronic pain
- Fatigue
- Low libido
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Nutrition deficiency
- Poor nutrition
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Magnesium deficiency
- Iron-deficiency anemia
Health conditions:
- Digestive issues
- Allergies
- Headaches
- Skin problems
- Obesity
- Hearing problems
- Eye strain and vision problems
- Sleep Disorder (Lack of sleep)
Mental Health
- Mental health concerns
- Chronic stress (Stress and anxiety)
- Depression
All above topics are covered in the book "Uncovering the Sub-Health Crisis: How Our Modern Lifestyle May Be Making Us Sick" written nutrtion consultant Jenny Winton.