Health Defined
Health is the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of any kind, irrespective of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition. The right to health is a matter of public policy, as recognized by numerous nation states, and it is the responsibility of all nations to promote and protect it.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in 1948 as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This is an important concept to consider because it suggests that good health involves more than simply being free of illness. It encompasses an individual’s ability to adapt and function in the face of change, uncertainty or adversity.
People’s health depends on many factors — genetics, their environment, and their behaviours. These factors may be risk or protective and interact with each other. They are often called ‘health determinants’. Examples of these are income, employment, education and housing. In addition, lifestyles such as smoking and diet also have an impact on health. The physical environment can affect health, for example, the quality of air and water and the presence of germs.
Various definitions of health have been proposed throughout the years, but none has been universally accepted. Some define health as the absence of disease; others define it as a state of physical, psychological and social well-being, while still others believe that health is a combination of all of these.
The way people perceive and define health has a profound effect on how they live their lives, how they treat themselves and how they are cared for. These perspectives are influenced by culture, values, beliefs, family and community. It is important to understand these influences in order to develop interventions that promote health and prevent diseases.
There is an increasing recognition that the healthcare landscape is complex and needs to be redesigned in order to provide high-quality, accessible services that meet the health needs of the people. Many different organisations are involved in the delivery of healthcare, including physician offices, hospitals, laboratories, radiology centers, physical therapy and pharmaceutical companies. The complexities of the healthcare landscape can lead to confusion and frustration for patients.
A patient’s individual health profile over the course of a lifetime must be considered when developing interventions. This can be achieved by developing a model of healthcare that integrates an individual’s changing needs and priorities with their current health status.
There is a direct relationship between a person’s health and the environment in which they grow, work, play, live, and age. This includes the natural environment, the built environment and a person’s personal circumstances such as their financial situation, work conditions, social connections, quality of life and personal behaviours. The Commission on Social Determinants of Health (2008) describes how these are interconnected and call for a holistic approach to health.
Health is the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of any kind, irrespective of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition. The right to health is a matter of public policy, as recognized by numerous nation states, and it is the responsibility of all nations to promote and protect it. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in 1948 as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This is an important concept to consider because it suggests that good health involves more than simply being free of illness. It encompasses an individual’s ability to adapt and function in the face of change, uncertainty or adversity. People’s health depends on many factors — genetics, their environment, and their behaviours. These factors may be risk or protective and interact with each other. They are often called ‘health determinants’. Examples of these are income, employment, education and housing. In addition, lifestyles such as smoking and diet also have an impact on health. The physical environment can affect health, for example, the quality of air and water and the presence of germs. Various definitions of health have been proposed throughout the years, but none has been universally accepted. Some define health as the absence of disease; others define it as a state of physical, psychological and social well-being, while still others believe that health is a combination of all of these. The way people perceive and define health has a profound effect on how they live their lives, how they treat themselves and how they are cared for. These perspectives are influenced by culture, values, beliefs, family and community. It is important to understand these influences in order to develop interventions that promote health and prevent diseases. There is an increasing recognition that the healthcare landscape is complex and needs to be redesigned in order to provide high-quality, accessible services that meet the health needs of the people. Many different organisations are involved in the delivery of healthcare, including physician offices, hospitals, laboratories, radiology centers, physical therapy and pharmaceutical companies. The complexities of the healthcare landscape can lead to confusion and frustration for patients. A patient’s individual health profile over the course of a lifetime must be considered when developing interventions. This can be achieved by developing a model of healthcare that integrates an individual’s changing needs and priorities with their current health status. There is a direct relationship between a person’s health and the environment in which they grow, work, play, live, and age. This includes the natural environment, the built environment and a person’s personal circumstances such as their financial situation, work conditions, social connections, quality of life and personal behaviours. The Commission on Social Determinants of Health (2008) describes how these are interconnected and call for a holistic approach to health.