Health Articles
Health is a broad term that refers to the state of one’s emotional, mental and physical well-being. It is a key component of life and can be affected by a wide range of factors, including access to healthcare services. Health articles can focus on topics ranging from medical advances to new trends in wellness and fitness. When generating ideas for health articles, it is important to look for trends that are affecting the general public or specific groups of people. These can be found through news stories, social media posts or even discussions at scientific meetings.
Multiple definitions of health exist, ranging from a precise biomedical or physical definition (the absence of negative biologic circumstances, such as altered DNA, abnormal physiologic states, disease, disability or death) to the more expansive World Health Organization definition: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. The latter is more widely accepted and has led to a change in perspectives on how health is promoted. The emergence of the field model of health, fostered by the WHO, has encouraged efforts to promote health not only through attempts to remove diseases and diminish their incidence but also by addressing individuals’ ability to function in ways that are consistent with their values, needs, aspirations and expectations; and their overall sense of physical, psychological and social well-being.
In this perspective, health is the result of a complex interplay between many factors, some of which are nearly impossible to alter, while others, such as nutrition and exercise, are amenable to change on a population basis. Traditionally, targets for intervention have been specific diseases and behaviors, and categorical funding streams for both research and the delivery of care encourage this approach. However, the field model of health provides a framework for consideration of a much wider range of targets for interventions that may be more appropriate and effective for some communities than targeting specific diseases or behaviors alone.
Regardless of how an individual views the meaning of health, it is important to consider this concept as it relates to one’s lifestyle choices. Having good health means having the capability to handle the stresses of everyday life, as well as the capacity to adapt to changing conditions. This definition of health has led to an emphasis on prevention rather than treatment, and the recognition that good health is just as much a matter of personal choice as is wealth or poverty. Health is therefore a vital human right. In the light of this, the various nation states that have endorsed the right to health in their constitutions are legally obliged to safeguard its realization. They must ensure that all individuals have access to adequate, affordable, quality health care in a timely manner. The enjoyment of this right cannot be denied on the grounds of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition. Those who have the highest standard of health will be able to contribute more effectively to the pursuit of peace and security.
Health is a broad term that refers to the state of one’s emotional, mental and physical well-being. It is a key component of life and can be affected by a wide range of factors, including access to healthcare services. Health articles can focus on topics ranging from medical advances to new trends in wellness and fitness. When generating ideas for health articles, it is important to look for trends that are affecting the general public or specific groups of people. These can be found through news stories, social media posts or even discussions at scientific meetings. Multiple definitions of health exist, ranging from a precise biomedical or physical definition (the absence of negative biologic circumstances, such as altered DNA, abnormal physiologic states, disease, disability or death) to the more expansive World Health Organization definition: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. The latter is more widely accepted and has led to a change in perspectives on how health is promoted. The emergence of the field model of health, fostered by the WHO, has encouraged efforts to promote health not only through attempts to remove diseases and diminish their incidence but also by addressing individuals’ ability to function in ways that are consistent with their values, needs, aspirations and expectations; and their overall sense of physical, psychological and social well-being. In this perspective, health is the result of a complex interplay between many factors, some of which are nearly impossible to alter, while others, such as nutrition and exercise, are amenable to change on a population basis. Traditionally, targets for intervention have been specific diseases and behaviors, and categorical funding streams for both research and the delivery of care encourage this approach. However, the field model of health provides a framework for consideration of a much wider range of targets for interventions that may be more appropriate and effective for some communities than targeting specific diseases or behaviors alone. Regardless of how an individual views the meaning of health, it is important to consider this concept as it relates to one’s lifestyle choices. Having good health means having the capability to handle the stresses of everyday life, as well as the capacity to adapt to changing conditions. This definition of health has led to an emphasis on prevention rather than treatment, and the recognition that good health is just as much a matter of personal choice as is wealth or poverty. Health is therefore a vital human right. In the light of this, the various nation states that have endorsed the right to health in their constitutions are legally obliged to safeguard its realization. They must ensure that all individuals have access to adequate, affordable, quality health care in a timely manner. The enjoyment of this right cannot be denied on the grounds of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition. Those who have the highest standard of health will be able to contribute more effectively to the pursuit of peace and security.