Introduction:
Lifestyle is a way used by people, groups and nations and is formed in specific geographical, economic, political, cultural and religious texts. Lifestyle is referred to the characteristics of inhabitants of a region in a special time and place. It includes day to day behaviours and functions of individuals in jobs, activities, fun and diet.
In recent decades, lifestyle as an important factor of health is more interested in researchers. According to WHO, 60% of related factors to individual health and quality of life are correlated to lifestyle (1). Millions of people follow an unhealthy lifestyle. Hence, they encounter illness, disability and even death. Problems like metabolic diseases, joint and skeletal problems, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, overweight, violence and so on, can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. The relationship between lifestyle and health should be highly considered.
Today, wide changes have occurred in the life of all people. Malnutrition, unhealthy diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, drug abuse, stress and so on, are the presentations of the unhealthy lifestyle that they are used as the dominant form of lifestyle. Besides, the lives of citizens face new challenges. For instance, emerging new technologies within IT such as the internet and virtual communication networks, lead our world to a major challenge that threatens the physical and mental health of individuals. The challenge is the overuse and misuse of technology.
Therefore, according to the existing studies, it can be said that: lifestyle has a significant influence on the physical and mental health of human beings. There are different forms of such influences. Consanguinity in some ethnicity is a dominant form of lifestyle that leads to genetic disorders. The reformation of this unhealthy lifestyle is a preventing factor for decreasing the rate of genetic diseases. In some countries, the overuse of drugs is a major unhealthy lifestyle. Iran is one of the 20 countries using the most medications. They prefer medication to other interventions. Furthermore, in 15–40% of cases, they use medications without prescription. Pain relievers, eye drops and antibiotics have the most usage in Iran. While self-medication such as antibiotics has a negative effect on the immune system, if the individual would be affected by infection, antibiotics will not be effective in treatment. Overall, 10 per cent of those who are self-medicated will experience severe complications such as drug resistance. Sometimes drug allergy is so severe that it can cause death (4).
Finally, variables of lifestyle that influence health can be categorized in some items:
Diet and Body Mass Index (BMI): Diet is the greatest factor in lifestyle and has a direct and positive relation with health. Poor diet and its consequences like obesity is a common health problem in urban societies. An unhealthy lifestyle can be measured by BMI. Urban lifestyle leads to the nutrition problems like using fast foods and poor foods, increasing problems like cardiovascular.
Exercise: For treating general health problems, exercise is included in lifestyle. Continuous exercise along with a healthy diet increases health. Some studies stress the relation of an active lifestyle with happiness.
Sleep: One of the bases of healthy life is sleep. Sleep cannot be apart from life. Sleep disorders have several social, psychological, economical and healthy consequences. Lifestyle may affect sleep and sleep has a clear influence on mental and physical health.
Sexual behaviour: Normal sex relation is necessary for a healthy life. Dysfunction of sex relations is the problem of most societies and it has a significant effect on mental and physical health. It can be said that dysfunctional sex relations may result in various family problems or sex-related illnesses like; AIDS
Substance abuse: Addiction is considered an unhealthy lifestyle. Smoking and using other substances may result in various problems; cardiovascular disease, asthma, cancer, brain injury. According to recent studies in Iran, 43% of females and 64% of males experience the use of hubble-bubble. A longitudinal study shows that 30% of people between 18–65 years old smoke cigarettes permanently.
Medication abuse: It is a common form of using medication in Iran and it is considered an unhealthy lifestyle. Unhealthy behaviours in using medication are as followed: self-treatment, sharing medication, using medications without a prescription, prescribing too many drugs, prescribing a large number of each drug, unnecessary drugs, bad handwriting in prescription, disregard to the contradictory drugs, disregard to harmful effects of drugs, not explaining the effects of drugs.
Application of modern technologies: Advanced technology facilitates the life of human beings. Misuse of technology may result in unpleasant consequences. For example, using computers and other devices up to midnight may affect the pattern of sleep and it may disturb sleep. Addiction to use mobile phones is related to depression symptoms.
Recreation: Leisure pass time is a subfactor of lifestyle. Neglecting leisure can bring negative consequences. With disorganized planning and unhealthy leisure, people endanger their health.
Study: Study is the exercise of the soul. Placing study as a factor in lifestyle may lead to more physical and mental health. For example, the prevalence of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease is lowering educated people. The study could slow the process of dementia. Conclusion: With a glance at existing examinations in the wellbeing area, 9 key elements can be proposed for a solid way of life. Concerning each factor, methodical arranging at the miniature and full-scale level can be set up. It can give a social and individual sound way of life