What Is Health and How Does It Affect Us?
Health is the state of an individual’s physical, mental and social well-being. It is a concept that has been defined in many ways, from a medical perspective as “the absence of disease or infirmity” to a more holistic view of health as a resource for an individual to function in society and to fulfill their potential.
There are three broad categories of health: Physical, Psychological and Nutritional. Physical health involves a person’s body functions and processes, and is largely determined by one’s level of fitness. It requires regular exercise and a balanced diet to keep the body functioning at its optimal level. A person’s psychological health is an important factor in their overall wellness, as it refers to their emotional stability and ability to cope with stressors. Their nutritional health is the level of nutrient intake necessary to maintain their bodies’ immune systems and proper bodily functioning.
A person’s overall health is also impacted by their environment, which may contribute to the development of disease or illness. These factors are often referred to as the social determinants of health (SDOH). They include all aspects of an individual’s living and working environments that affect his or her quality of life. These include (but are not limited to) housing, water and air quality, economics and access to resources, education, community safety, crime and policing, and work and leisure activities.
It is a common misconception that the healthcare landscape is a monolithic entity that can be defined by one single model. However, in reality it is a complex ecosystem of interconnected moving parts, each influenced by the others. There are several different healthcare landscapes, each of which is suited to specific health needs and each of which will change with time. These diverse ecosystems are comprised of physician offices, hospitals, labs, imaging centers, physiotherapy centers, pharmaceutical companies, drug stores, group purchasing organizations, pharmacy benefit managers and health insurances.
Health is the state of an individual’s physical, mental and social well-being. It is a concept that has been defined in many ways, from a medical perspective as “the absence of disease or infirmity” to a more holistic view of health as a resource for an individual to function in society and to fulfill their potential. There are three broad categories of health: Physical, Psychological and Nutritional. Physical health involves a person’s body functions and processes, and is largely determined by one’s level of fitness. It requires regular exercise and a balanced diet to keep the body functioning at its optimal level. A person’s psychological health is an important factor in their overall wellness, as it refers to their emotional stability and ability to cope with stressors. Their nutritional health is the level of nutrient intake necessary to maintain their bodies’ immune systems and proper bodily functioning. A person’s overall health is also impacted by their environment, which may contribute to the development of disease or illness. These factors are often referred to as the social determinants of health (SDOH). They include all aspects of an individual’s living and working environments that affect his or her quality of life. These include (but are not limited to) housing, water and air quality, economics and access to resources, education, community safety, crime and policing, and work and leisure activities. It is a common misconception that the healthcare landscape is a monolithic entity that can be defined by one single model. However, in reality it is a complex ecosystem of interconnected moving parts, each influenced by the others. There are several different healthcare landscapes, each of which is suited to specific health needs and each of which will change with time. These diverse ecosystems are comprised of physician offices, hospitals, labs, imaging centers, physiotherapy centers, pharmaceutical companies, drug stores, group purchasing organizations, pharmacy benefit managers and health insurances.