The Concept of Health
Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health is a fundamental human right and an essential requirement for the enjoyment of life. It is a collective responsibility of all peoples and requires the active cooperation of individuals and governments.
Many definitions of health have been proposed. The World Health Organization defines it as “a state of well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This is a broad and inclusive definition that allows for the inclusion of an individual’s social and spiritual wellbeing alongside their physical wellbeing. It also encourages a more holistic approach to the causes of health and illness, rather than simply focusing on the symptoms of disease.
There is a growing recognition that health is not just about the absence of disease or infirmity, but encompasses an individual’s social, emotional and spiritual well-being as well. This new understanding of health has led to a shift in focus from treating disease to improving the overall quality of life. This includes promoting healthful lifestyles, such as exercise and good diet, and reducing unhealthful behaviours, such as smoking and excessive stress.
The history of the concept of health has been influenced by different cultures and ideas about what is important to the human spirit. In antiquity, Democritus attributed health to the primary constitution of the human body (we now understand this as genetics), while Hippocrates linked it to lifestyle and environmental factors, such as diet and seasons’ changes, which have a significant impact on health, e.g. winter respiratory illnesses and summer digestive complaints.
More recently, the concept of health has been shaped by Western medicine, which has contributed to the development of new diagnostic techniques and treatment options. It has also led to the development of medical ethics, which places the individual at the centre of their healthcare decision-making. The emphasis on the social determinants of health has also challenged the traditional view that the medical profession is the sole authority to define disease, and that it is the duty of those who are sick to seek help from physicians.
The challenge now is to ensure that health is placed higher on the scales of individuals and communities’ values, so that pursuing healthy lifestyles becomes as natural as avoiding unhealthy ones. This will require an integrated approach to the promotion of health, with governments taking on a much greater role in addressing the social and economic drivers of poor health. It will also require a more holistic and interdisciplinary approach to research, and a willingness to change the ways in which health is understood and delivered around the world. This is a very big task. But if we don’t begin to tackle it now, the consequences for humanity may be very dire indeed. (1).
Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health is a fundamental human right and an essential requirement for the enjoyment of life. It is a collective responsibility of all peoples and requires the active cooperation of individuals and governments. Many definitions of health have been proposed. The World Health Organization defines it as “a state of well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This is a broad and inclusive definition that allows for the inclusion of an individual’s social and spiritual wellbeing alongside their physical wellbeing. It also encourages a more holistic approach to the causes of health and illness, rather than simply focusing on the symptoms of disease. There is a growing recognition that health is not just about the absence of disease or infirmity, but encompasses an individual’s social, emotional and spiritual well-being as well. This new understanding of health has led to a shift in focus from treating disease to improving the overall quality of life. This includes promoting healthful lifestyles, such as exercise and good diet, and reducing unhealthful behaviours, such as smoking and excessive stress. The history of the concept of health has been influenced by different cultures and ideas about what is important to the human spirit. In antiquity, Democritus attributed health to the primary constitution of the human body (we now understand this as genetics), while Hippocrates linked it to lifestyle and environmental factors, such as diet and seasons’ changes, which have a significant impact on health, e.g. winter respiratory illnesses and summer digestive complaints. More recently, the concept of health has been shaped by Western medicine, which has contributed to the development of new diagnostic techniques and treatment options. It has also led to the development of medical ethics, which places the individual at the centre of their healthcare decision-making. The emphasis on the social determinants of health has also challenged the traditional view that the medical profession is the sole authority to define disease, and that it is the duty of those who are sick to seek help from physicians. The challenge now is to ensure that health is placed higher on the scales of individuals and communities’ values, so that pursuing healthy lifestyles becomes as natural as avoiding unhealthy ones. This will require an integrated approach to the promotion of health, with governments taking on a much greater role in addressing the social and economic drivers of poor health. It will also require a more holistic and interdisciplinary approach to research, and a willingness to change the ways in which health is understood and delivered around the world. This is a very big task. But if we don’t begin to tackle it now, the consequences for humanity may be very dire indeed. (1).