The Definition Of Health And Its Importance To Societies
“Health” is one of those terms with many different meanings. It has both medical and non medical connotations. In its strictest sense “health” is synonymous with life. According to the World Health Organization, health is “an overall condition of the physical human body and mind which may be affected by environmental risks such as exposure to health risks or other factors”.
To better understand what exactly health means let us consider some examples. The definition of “unhealthy” is an impairment that limits a person’s ability to live well-lived lives, preventing them from achieving and maintaining optimal health. On the other hand “overweight” is the state in which a person has excess weight for their height and body mass index (BMI). A heart disease or heart attack is another example of an impairment that can potentially be hazardous to your well-being as well as to others.
A better description of health would be one that encompasses all the aspects of life that are important. Health involves physical well-being, mental health, social aspects and the impact of environmental risks on health. This broader perspective helps us to understand that there are no discrete categories of “good health”; instead a healthy definition of health would incorporate aspects of all three areas. This more accurate definition of “good health” makes it possible to make broad distinctions that could help bring individuals and communities together for the benefit of all. This article will briefly discuss some of the most common elements of this broader definition of health system.
The third definition of “good health” is one that is grounded in the recognition that individuals need both physical and mental stimulation in order to thrive and maintain optimal health. It also recognizes that the mind and body play an intricate role in one another, so that disease prevention is not just a matter of keeping the body healthy. Many scientists now agree with this third definition of good health as it stands more in line with current understanding of the brain’s development and function than the second definition. This third definition is therefore closer to the ideal that we might have about optimal health.
The fourth and final definition is one that is influenced by the complexity of modern society and the unique characteristics of people as a result of their individualized responses to life. This fifth definition emphasizes the imperative of improving health through social interventions. As we have seen, people’s responses to illness have always varied and these variations reflect not only their physical illness but also their social responses. The challenge for public health and researchers has always been to understand how these variations affect the mental wellbeing of those who suffer from disease or disability.
This article has attempted to offer an explanation of five broad elements of the definition of a healthy definition of health. All of these elements should be considered in any comprehensive effort to understand the definition of a health system, as the improvement of one group can impact another and this is particularly relevant in complex multiethnic societies. We recommend that health systems be studied as a whole, drawing on definitions from various disciplines and focusing attention on those that are influenced by varying social and environmental factors.