When people talk about health, they usually mean more than simply the absence of disease or illness. But this conceptualisation of health has a number of problems.
It places too much emphasis on personal lifestyle and avoiding unhealthful habits such as smoking or stress. But there are many factors that contribute to health, and some of them are beyond the control of individuals.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.
A person’s health encompasses both their physical and mental well-being. It also involves social and emotional well-being.
Physical well-being is the result of a combination of factors, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, sufficient rest and sleep, and avoiding tobacco and other harmful substances. It also includes medical treatment when needed.
Spiritual health encompasses a person’s inner peace and sense of purpose. It is a combination of many factors, including a person’s beliefs and values, self-confidence, and feelings of safety and well-being. It can also be influenced by one’s environment and genetics.
Social health is about connection – and it is a vastly under-appreciated aspect of wellness. It includes nurturing relationships, feeling supported and valued by the people around us, and participating in communities in ways that feel nourishing to our souls. Social health is a combination of many factors, including family structure, education, work conditions, and living standards. It is a complex phenomenon that requires the involvement of a range of factors, including the social and physical environments.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Health is a complex concept that encompasses many aspects of people’s lives. It is important to understand how the public perceives health as a result of increasing life expectancy, advances in healthcare, and changing demographics. WHO is asking the public to share their definition of health in a short 60-word submission.
The organization is looking for creative and innovative definitions to celebrate its 60th anniversary of defining health. The submissions will be displayed during the WHO Regional Committee sessions, attended by Ministers of Health, to raise their awareness on how the definition has evolved since its inception in 1948.
This broad definition of health is different from the traditional biomedical model, as it recognizes that people can be healthy even in the absence of disease or illness. It also acknowledges that there are social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to health. It places a high value on individuals’ own choices and values and is based on an approach that integrates biomedical sciences, public health, psychology, sociology, statistics, and epidemiology.
The Lancet defines health as “the ability to adapt and self-manage in the face of changing circumstances.”
A person’s health depends on a range of factors, from the environment to their genetic makeup. It also depends on whether they can access and afford good healthcare when needed, as well as having the resources to live a healthy lifestyle. People with lower socioeconomic status are at greater risk of poor health due to a range of social factors, including financial stress, family disruption and unemployment.
Government commitment to PHC tends to increase with income level, although there is substantial variation within any given country at any income level. This is partly due to the definition of health expenditure (including a component for PHC) and the way in which funding for health services are collected, pooled, distributed and tracked in each country.
Financing for PHC is one of the essential building blocks of high-functioning health systems, together with governance arrangements that support delivery of people-centred care; a competent and empowered workforce; functional information, monitoring, evaluation and learning systems; and functioning procurement and distribution supply chains for medicines and other commodities. These elements are addressed in section 2.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines health as “the ability to live a full and productive life.”
The NIH is the main agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. Its mission is “science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life and reduce the burdens of disease”.
Its definition of health includes aspects such as the ability to function and thrive despite chronic or debilitating diseases, the capacity to enjoy one’s work, family and friends, and the capability to participate fully in society. It also emphasizes that the determinants of health are complex and dynamic.
The NIH has two programs: the Intramural Research Program, which conducts studies at its own facilities and laboratories, and the Extramural Research Program, which funds research by scientists at universities, medical schools and other institutions. It is also a key player in intergovernmental relationships, working with a wide range of federal agencies, state and local governments and international organizations on public health initiatives.