Understanding the Concept of Health
Health is a broad concept covering several aspects of human functioning and well-being. Health encompasses not only the absence of disease or disability but also the presence of functional capacity, psychological and social well-being, and a sense of personal meaning and satisfaction. The concept of Health is not static, but changes over time as the broader environment in which people live and work influence their health.
For example, when health is defined as the ability to adapt and cope in the face of change or adversity, this emphasizes resiliency and self-management. It also reflects the idea that people need to be healthy in order to enjoy their lives and contribute to society. This view of Health differs from the medical paradigm that focuses on diagnosing and treating disease.
There is a third definition of health that stresses the connection between the environment and health. This includes the natural environment, housing and built environments, as well as community and interpersonal relationships. It is possible that these environmental influences can have as much of an effect on health as a person’s genetics and lifestyle.
This is an evolving field of study that incorporates research from disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics, epidemiology, pharmacology and medical sociology. The underlying goal is to understand the factors that affect health and illness, as well as to develop methods for prevention and treatment.
The societal view of health focuses on the individual’s relationship with their environment and society. People who are healthy have the resources, support and opportunities to meet life’s challenges. They are able to achieve aspirations and satisfy needs, manage stress and change, and participate in social relationships and community activities. These are referred to as the social determinants of health, and they include education; income; occupation; age; family circumstances and early childhood; housing; food security; physical environment; working conditions and a sense of safety in communities, countries and the world.
From the lay perspective, health is experienced as wholeness, pragmatism and individualism. Wholeness refers to the view of health as a holistic phenomenon, where health is incorporated into all aspects of an individual’s life. This includes family functioning and children’s welfare, as well as an individual’s sense of achievement in work and life. People often expect that their health will decline with age, but they usually believe that other positive values in their lives can compensate for this.
The pragmatists are those who recognize that not all health phenomena can be explained in terms of the scientific method and that there are limitations to knowledge. They see the importance of maintaining a balance between risk and benefit, as well as between short-term gains and long-term losses. They acknowledge that the social and ecological factors of health are complex, and they advocate that a broad range of interventions be employed. They are also willing to accept that some diseases will require a medical response.
Health is a broad concept covering several aspects of human functioning and well-being. Health encompasses not only the absence of disease or disability but also the presence of functional capacity, psychological and social well-being, and a sense of personal meaning and satisfaction. The concept of Health is not static, but changes over time as the broader environment in which people live and work influence their health. For example, when health is defined as the ability to adapt and cope in the face of change or adversity, this emphasizes resiliency and self-management. It also reflects the idea that people need to be healthy in order to enjoy their lives and contribute to society. This view of Health differs from the medical paradigm that focuses on diagnosing and treating disease. There is a third definition of health that stresses the connection between the environment and health. This includes the natural environment, housing and built environments, as well as community and interpersonal relationships. It is possible that these environmental influences can have as much of an effect on health as a person’s genetics and lifestyle. This is an evolving field of study that incorporates research from disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics, epidemiology, pharmacology and medical sociology. The underlying goal is to understand the factors that affect health and illness, as well as to develop methods for prevention and treatment. The societal view of health focuses on the individual’s relationship with their environment and society. People who are healthy have the resources, support and opportunities to meet life’s challenges. They are able to achieve aspirations and satisfy needs, manage stress and change, and participate in social relationships and community activities. These are referred to as the social determinants of health, and they include education; income; occupation; age; family circumstances and early childhood; housing; food security; physical environment; working conditions and a sense of safety in communities, countries and the world. From the lay perspective, health is experienced as wholeness, pragmatism and individualism. Wholeness refers to the view of health as a holistic phenomenon, where health is incorporated into all aspects of an individual’s life. This includes family functioning and children’s welfare, as well as an individual’s sense of achievement in work and life. People often expect that their health will decline with age, but they usually believe that other positive values in their lives can compensate for this. The pragmatists are those who recognize that not all health phenomena can be explained in terms of the scientific method and that there are limitations to knowledge. They see the importance of maintaining a balance between risk and benefit, as well as between short-term gains and long-term losses. They acknowledge that the social and ecological factors of health are complex, and they advocate that a broad range of interventions be employed. They are also willing to accept that some diseases will require a medical response.