What Is Health?
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not just the absence of disease or infirmity. This definition is based on the understanding that health is the result of the interaction between the individual and their environment. Individuals can take action to maintain or improve their health by adopting a healthy lifestyle and avoiding unhealthful behaviors, such as smoking and excessive stress, and by seeking medical treatment when necessary. The health of a community can also be improved by improving working conditions, educational standards, safety in neighborhoods, and economic well-being, as well as by providing access to quality medical care.
The term health is a complex concept, and the definition of health varies depending on one’s perspective. A person’s understanding of health can be influenced by his or her culture and the beliefs and values of other people around him or her, as well as by his or her genetic makeup. While the concept of health makes sense in most contexts, its meaning is not universal. Different concepts of health exist because they reflect various perspectives on the nature of human well-being and the meaning of life.
Historically, the idea of health was limited to efforts to remove diseases and diminish risk factors that might lead to illness. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic illustrates that a more expansive view of health is needed. This broader view of health recognizes that individuals must constantly adapt to changing environmental and personal contexts that threaten their physical, emotional and social well-being. The goal of health is to achieve a balance in managing these contexts, with the individual developing resiliency and resources to cope with these challenges.
When a person is healthy, he or she may be physically well enough to work and perform family activities, have good social relationships and gain meaning from his or her existence. For example, a woman who has Down syndrome may be able to swim competitively, earn money in part-time jobs, participate in community groups and enjoy the love of his or her family. Moreover, a man with bipolar disorder can manage his condition through medication and a healthy lifestyle, maintain good work performance and enjoy the companionship of his or her family and friends.
When writing a health article, the writer must first determine who the audience is. This is important because readers have different goals and problems that relate to health. Some readers are seeking a general overview of new scientific discoveries, while others want to learn more about specific diseases or treatments. The format of the article also matters, because different publications have their own requirements for length and type of information. For example, short news stories are often written in a more concise style than longer articles. Similarly, some magazines have special sections that focus on certain topics. For this reason, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the judging criteria for each publication before writing an article that is intended for submission.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not just the absence of disease or infirmity. This definition is based on the understanding that health is the result of the interaction between the individual and their environment. Individuals can take action to maintain or improve their health by adopting a healthy lifestyle and avoiding unhealthful behaviors, such as smoking and excessive stress, and by seeking medical treatment when necessary. The health of a community can also be improved by improving working conditions, educational standards, safety in neighborhoods, and economic well-being, as well as by providing access to quality medical care. The term health is a complex concept, and the definition of health varies depending on one’s perspective. A person’s understanding of health can be influenced by his or her culture and the beliefs and values of other people around him or her, as well as by his or her genetic makeup. While the concept of health makes sense in most contexts, its meaning is not universal. Different concepts of health exist because they reflect various perspectives on the nature of human well-being and the meaning of life. Historically, the idea of health was limited to efforts to remove diseases and diminish risk factors that might lead to illness. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic illustrates that a more expansive view of health is needed. This broader view of health recognizes that individuals must constantly adapt to changing environmental and personal contexts that threaten their physical, emotional and social well-being. The goal of health is to achieve a balance in managing these contexts, with the individual developing resiliency and resources to cope with these challenges. When a person is healthy, he or she may be physically well enough to work and perform family activities, have good social relationships and gain meaning from his or her existence. For example, a woman who has Down syndrome may be able to swim competitively, earn money in part-time jobs, participate in community groups and enjoy the love of his or her family. Moreover, a man with bipolar disorder can manage his condition through medication and a healthy lifestyle, maintain good work performance and enjoy the companionship of his or her family and friends. When writing a health article, the writer must first determine who the audience is. This is important because readers have different goals and problems that relate to health. Some readers are seeking a general overview of new scientific discoveries, while others want to learn more about specific diseases or treatments. The format of the article also matters, because different publications have their own requirements for length and type of information. For example, short news stories are often written in a more concise style than longer articles. Similarly, some magazines have special sections that focus on certain topics. For this reason, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the judging criteria for each publication before writing an article that is intended for submission.