What’s the Difference Between Health and Wellness?

At first glance, you might think health and wellness are the same thing. Both are tied to an overall sense of well-being and constitute the building blocks of a happy and easeful life. But, without a clear understanding of their differences, you may struggle to achieve lifelong health and all around wellness. In short, health is typically defined as a state of being (free from illness, injury, disease), whereas wellness is the journey of achieving and maintaining a high quality of life. 

Let’s cut through the confusion by defining these oft-misunderstood terms and illuminating the relationship between health and wellness—while providing some practical tips for improving both. 

What is Health?

Health, according to traditional Western medicine, is typically defined as the state of being free from illness or injury. However, the World Health Organization defines health1 as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” In the medical field, health is measured based on vital signs like resting heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and other metrics like weight or bloodwork that can determine physical health. But, these data don’t tell the whole story. Mental and social health are also core components. Let’s look at some key indicators of this trio. 

What is Wellness? 

In the past decade, wellness has become a trendy buzzword—used haphazardly in marketing—to promote a myriad of products and industries. So what does it actually mean? 

Unlike health, wellness is the multidimensional pursuit of overall well-being. Whereas health is often defined as a state, wellness is a process or a lifelong journey. You can think of it as a holistic approach to overall health—more like a lifestyle encompassing all aspects of your daily existence: your body, career, relationships, emotional life, intellectual growth, personal development, daily habits and more. A focus on wellness shapes how you live your life and your daily routine.

It’s also important to note the distinction between wellness and well-being, as they are often used indistinguishably. Wellness is the process of making lifestyle choices to attain and sustain good health, while well-being is the holistic state of feeling happy, healthy, and satisfied. Wellness is the path we take to achieve well-being.     

The Many Dimensions of Wellness

As noted earlier, optimal wellness is a multifaceted process. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a U.S. federal agency that works to improve treatment of mental health disorders and substance abuse problems, has defined eight separate dimensions of wellness. 

Other organizations have distinguished nine, or even ten dimensions of wellness, which include additional facets such as cultural, creative, and digital wellness. 

Health Versus Wellness: How Do They Differ? 

Although health and wellness are similar terms, we’ve briefly outlined how their definitions diverge. Let’s dig a little deeper into what sets them apart. 

Health is measurable, while wellness is experiential

Whereas health can be objectively determined by a clinical visit, wellness is more subjective, and is determined by the individual.

For example: A patient’s bloodwork may show they have a health condition like diabetes or high cholesterol. But, by taking steps towards wellness like eating less fat or sugar, and exercising more, a patient can improve those markers over time and feel a lot better both physically and mentally. 

Health is reactive, while wellness is proactive 

Health is focused on symptoms or indicators of illness, whereas wellness is preventative. 

For example: A sore throat or cough may need to be treated as an illness, requiring rest and medication, whereas wellness practices like consistently getting enough sleep and staying hydrated can help support a healthy immune system to prevent cold and flu.

Health is a state, while wellness is a process

Health is a fluctuating state. A clinical visit provides a snapshot of your health based on measurable vital signs. However, wellness is a set of habits and choices that influence your health over time. 

For example: You have a positive yearly check up with your general practitioner; all your vital signs are good and you’re at a healthy weight. Your GP asks you how you’re maintaining such good health, and you tell her about your daily wellness practices: cooking healthy food, walking at lunchtime, and practicing yoga. 

Good health is necessary for surviving, while wellness is about maintaining health and thriving

For example: Someone might show normal or healthy vital signs during a doctor’s appointment. However, they might feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and unhappy with their life. By adding some new wellness practices like weekly therapy, a new hobby, a meditation practice, and a daily walk outside in the sunshine, general well-being could improve dramatically. 

What is the Relationship Between Health and Wellness? 

Although health and wellness aren’t the same, they have a symbiotic relationship. It’s hard to maintain good health without focusing on wellness. And vice versa: poor health can lead to poor lifestyle choices. 

For example, if someone is feeling major stress from a massive life change like a divorce or job layoff, they might feel exhausted and depleted, causing them to skip meals, numb out with more doomscrolling, sleep less, make poor food choices like sugary and salty snacks, and withdraw from friends and family, which exacerbates their stress levels. In turn, these poor habits can cause adverse health effects such as depression and anxiety, decreased immunity, weight loss or gain. 

However, if that same person adds wellness practices to their life to manage stress, such as a meditation practice or walk outside in the morning and a calming bedtime routine, stress levels may drop, sleep quality improves, and their mood stabilizes, which can influence overall health. 

Here are some examples of how health and wellness are closely related and influence each other. 

Practical Ways To Boost Health and Wellness 

Improving your health and wellness is a daily commitment. However, even small steps can make a big difference. Here’s a list of tips to get you started. 

How to improve your health: 

• Get regular checkups with a physician to determine your baseline health metrics: vital signs, bloodwork, weight, and more. Discover where you may need improvement
• Limit harmful and addictive substances like alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs
• Manage chronic illnesses with appropriate medications and lifestyle changes
• Eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet

How to improve your wellness: 

• Practice mindfulness, meditation, or yoga for stress management
• Maintain healthy relationships with family, friends, and colleagues
• Pursue hobbies and special interests: join a softball team or book club, learn how to play an instrument, etc. 
• Engage in meaningful social interactions: plan regular game nights with friends, make time to see family, go to church or join a volunteer group
• Spend time outdoors in nature regularly: take a weekly hike in the woods, go swimming in the warmer months, take your lunch break outside  
• Find time to recharge and unwind: take important “me time” on the weekends or evenings to rest and recuperate 
• Talk it out: discuss problems and issues with a trusted friend or therapist 

Combined health and wellness practices that make a big impact: 

• Find consistent daily movement you enjoy: walking the dog, hiking with your kids, playing a team sport
• Slow down and take deep breaths whenever you start to feel overwhelmed to manage anxiety or feel panicked about making a decision
• Spend time in the sunlight to improve mood and get vitamin D

Widespread Myths about Health and Wellness

Because health and wellness are so closely related, misconceptions can arise. Let’s debunk a few common ones:

1. More is better

Overexercising, engaging in detoxes or cleanses, extreme calorie restriction or fasting can all cause more damage than good. The key is to find a healthy balance and get plenty of rest.

1. You need to be perfect to achieve good health 

Wellness comprises a collection of healthy habits repeated over time. Don’t punish yourself if you miss a day of exercise or eat too much pizza. You don’t have to be perfect every single day, just consistent. 

1. If you’re not sick, you’re healthy

You can be in great health according to your doctor, but still feel tired, stressed, sad, or unfulfilled. If this is the case, try focusing on wellness and making some critical lifestyle changes. 

1. Wellness requires constant positivity

Life has its ups and downs and you are allowed to feel and express authentic emotions. In fact, pretending that everything is okay, may hinder your wellness and ability to ask for help when you need it. 

Health and Wellness Go Hand in Hand 

In conclusion, health and wellness are similar but not identical concepts. However, when pursued in tandem, health and wellness reinforce one another: helping us to live a longer, more balanced life. And, it’s not just about an increased lifespan, but about an improved healthspan: not just how many years you live, but how long you live in good health. Even making incremental changes daily can help improve your quality of life. So, start small in order to build a lasting foundation for health and wellness to root and grow stronger over time.