This article is about the human condition. For other uses, see Health (disambiguation).
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind and body, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain (as in "good health" or "healthy").[1] The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in 1946 as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."[2][3] Although this definition has been subject to controversy, in particular as lacking operational value and because of the problem created by use of the word "complete", it remains the most enduring .[4][5] Classification systems such as the WHO Family of International Classifications, including the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), are commonly used to define and measure the components of health.
Systematic activities to prevent or cure health problems and promote good health in humans are undertaken by health care providers. Applications with regard to animal health are covered by the veterinary sciences. The term "healthy" is also widely used in the context of many types of non-living organizations and their impacts for the benefit of humans, such as in the sense of healthy communities, healthy cities or healthy environments. In addition to health care interventions and a person's surroundings, a number of other factors are known to influence the health status of individuals, including their background, lifestyle, and economic and social conditions; these are referred to as "determinants of health".
Contents
1Determinants of health
2Mental health
3Maintaining health
3.1Role of science in health
3.2Role of public health
3.3Self-care strategies
4Occupational health
5See also
6References
7External links
Determinants of health
See also: Social determinants of health and Risk factor
Generally, the context in which an individual lives is of great importance for his health status and quality of life. It is increasingly recognized that health is maintained and improved not only through the advancement and application of health science, but also through the efforts and intelligent lifestyle choices of the individual and society. According to the World Health Organization, the main determinants of health include the social and economic environment, the physical environment, and the person's individual characteristics and behaviors.[6]
More specifically, key factors that have been found to influence whether people are healthy or unhealthy include:[6][7][8]
Income and social status
Social support networks
Education and literacy
Employment/working conditions
Social environments
Physical environments
Personal health practices and coping skills
Healthy child development
Biology and genetics
Health care services
Gender
Culture
Donald Henderson as part of the CDC's smallpox eradication team in 1966.
An increasing number of studies and reports from different organizations and contexts examine the linkages between health and different factors, including lifestyles, environments, health care organization, and health policy - such as the 1974 Lalonde report from Canada;[8] the Alameda County Study in California;[9] and the series of World Health Reports of the World Health Organization, which focuses on global health issues including access to health care and improving public health outcomes, especially in developing countries.[10]
The concept of the "health field", as distinct from medical care, emerged from the Lalonde report from Canada. The report identified three interdependent fields as key determinants of an individual's health. These are:[8]
Lifestyle: the aggregation of personal decisions (i.e., over which the individual has control) that can be said to contribute to, or cause, illness or death;
Environmental: all matters related to health external to the human body and over which the individual has little or no control;
Biomedical: all aspects of health, physical and mental, developed within the human body as influenced by genetic make-up.
The maintenance and promotion of health is achieved through different combination of physical, mental, and social well-being, together sometimes referred to as the "health triangle".[11][12] The WHO's 1986 Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion further stated that health is not just a state, but also "a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities."[13]
Focusing more on lifestyle issues and their relationships with functional health, data from the Alameda County Study suggested that people can improve their health via exercise, enough sleep, maintaining a healthy body weight, limiting alcohol use, and avoiding smoking.[14] The ability to adapt and to self manage have been suggested as core components of human health.[15]
The environment is often cited as an important factor influencing the health status of individuals. This includes characteristics of the natural environment, the built environment, and the social environment. Factors such as clean water and air, adequate housing, and safe communities and roads all have been found to contribute to good health, especially to the health of infants and children.[6][16] Some studies have shown that a lack of neighborhood recreational spaces including natural environment leads to lower levels of personal satisfaction and higher levels of obesity, linked to lower overall health and well being.[17] This suggests that the positive health benefits of natural space in urban neighborhoods should be taken into account in public policy and land use.
Genetics, or inherited traits from parents, also play a role in determining the health status of individuals and populations. This can encompass both the predisposition to certain diseases and health conditions, as well as the habits and behaviors individuals develop through the lifestyle of their families. For example, genetics may play a role in the manner in which people cope with stress, either mental, emotional or physical. (One difficulty is the issue raised by the debate over the relative strengths of genetics and other factors; interactions between genetics and environment may be of particular importance.)
Mental health
Main article: Mental health
The World Health Organization describes mental health as "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community".[18]
Roughly a quarter of all adults 18 and over in the US suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the US and Canada. Examples of disorders include, schizophrenia, ADHD, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and autism.[19]
Maintaining health
Achieving and maintaining health is an ongoing process, shaped by both the evolution of health care knowledge and practices as well as personal strategies and organized interventions for staying healthy.
Role of science in health
Main articles: Health science and Health care
The Dutch Public Health Service provides medical care for the natives of the Dutch East Indies, May 1946
Health science is the branch of science focused on health. There are two main approaches to health science: the study and research of the body and health-related issues to understand how humans (and animals) function, and the application of that knowledge to improve health and to prevent and cure diseases and other physical and mental impairments. The science builds on many sub-fields, including biology, biochemistry, physics, epidemiology, pharmacology, medical sociology. Applied health sciences endeavor to better understand and improve human health through applications in areas such as health education, biomedical engineering, biotechnology and public health.
Organized interventions to improve health based on the principles and procedures developed through the health sciences are provided by practitioners trained in medicine, nursing, nutrition, pharmacy, social work, psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy and other health care professions. Clinical practitioners focus mainly on the health of individuals, while public health practitioners consider the overall health of communities and populations.Workplace wellness programs are increasingly adopted by companies for their value in improving the health and well-being of their employees, as are school health services to improve the health and well-being of children.
Role of public health
Main article: Public health
See also: Global health
Postage stamp, New Zealand, 1933. Public health has been promoted - and depicted - in a wide variety of ways.
Public health has been described as "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals."[20] It is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. The population in question can be as small as a handful of people or as large as all the inhabitants of several continents (for instance, in the case of a pandemic). Public health has many sub-fields, but typically includes the interdisciplinary categories of epidemiology, biostatistics and health services. Environmental health, community health, behavioral health, and occupational health are also important areas of public health.
The focus of public health interventions is to prevent and manage diseases, injuries and other health conditions through surveillance of cases and the promotion of healthy behavior, communities, and (in aspects relevant to human health) environments. Its aim is to prevent health problems from happening or re-occurring by implementing educational programs, developing policies, administering services, and conducting research.[21] In many cases, treating a disease or controlling a pathogen can be vital to preventing it in others, such as during an outbreak. Vaccination programs and distribution of condoms to prevent the spread of communicable diseases are examples of common preventive public health measures, as are educational campaigns to promote vaccination and the use of condoms (including overcoming resistance to such).
Public health also takes various actions to limit the health disparities between different areas of the country and, in some cases, the continent or world. One issue is the access of individuals and communities to health care in terms of financial, geographical or sociocultural constraints to accessing and using services.[citation needed] Applications of the public health system include the areas of maternal and child health, health services administration, emergency response, and prevention and control of infectious and chronic diseases.
The great positive impact of public health programs is widely acknowledged. Due in part to the policies and actions developed through public health, the 20th century registered a decrease in the mortality rates for infants and children and a continual increase in life expectancy in most parts of the world. For example, it is estimated that life expectancy has increased for Americans by thirty years since 1900,[22] and worldwide by six years since 1990.[23]
Self-care strategies
Main article: Self care
See also: Chronic care management, Social relation, and Stress management
A lady washing her hands c. 1655
Personal health depends partially on the active, passive, and assisted cues people observe and adopt about their own health. These include personal actions for preventing or minimizing the effects of a disease, usually a chronic condition, through integrative care. They also include personal hygiene practices to prevent infection and illness, such as bathing and washing hands with soap; brushing and flossing teeth; storing, preparing and handling food safely; and many others. The information gleaned from personal observations of daily living - such as about sleep patterns, exercise behavior, nutritional intake, and environmental features - may be used to inform personal decisions and actions (e.g., "I feel tired in the morning so I am going to try sleeping on a different pillow"), as well as clinical decisions and treatment plans (e.g., a patient who notices his or her shoes are tighter than usual may be having exacerbation of left-sided heart failure, and may require diuretic medication to reduce fluid overload).[24]
Personal health also depends partially on the social structure of a person's life. The maintenance of strong social relationships, volunteering, and other social activities have been linked to positive mental health and even increased longevity. One American study among seniors over age 70 found that frequent volunteering was associated with reduced risk of dying compared with older persons who did not volunteer, regardless of physical health status.[25] Another study from Singapore reported that volunteering retirees had significantly better cognitive performance scores, fewer depressive symptoms, and better mental well-being and life satisfaction than non-volunteering retirees.[26]
Prolonged psychological stress may negatively impact health, and has been cited as a factor in cognitive impairment with aging, depressive illness, and expression of disease.[27] Stress management is the application of methods to either reduce stress or increase tolerance to stress. Relaxation techniques are physical methods used to relieve stress. Psychological methods include cognitive therapy, meditation, and positive thinking, which work by reducing response to stress. Improving relevant skills, such as problem solving and time management skills, reduces uncertainty and builds confidence, which also reduces the reaction to stress-causing situations where those skills are applicable.
Occupational health
Main article: Occupational health and safety
In addition to safety risks, many jobs also present risks of disease, illness, and other long-term health problems. Among the most common occupational diseases are various forms of pneumoconiosis, including silicosis and coal worker's pneumoconiosis (black lung disease). Asthma is another respiratory illness that many workers are vulnerable to. Workers may also be vulnerable to skin diseases, including eczema, dermatitis, urticaria, sunburn, and skin cancer.[28][29] Other occupational diseases of concern include carpal tunnel syndrome and lead poisoning.
As the number of service sector jobs has risen in developed countries, more and more jobs have become sedentary, presenting a different array of health problems than those associated with manufacturing and the primary sector. Contemporary problems such as the growing rate of obesity and issues relating to stress and overwork in many countries have further complicated the interaction between work and health.
Many governments view occupational health as a social challenge and have formed public organizations to ensure the health and safety of workers. Examples of these include the British Health and Safety Executive and in the United States, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which conducts research on occupational health and safety, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which handles regulation and policy relating to worker safety and health.[30][31][32]
See also
Health and fitness portal
Book: Health
Global burden of disease
Health care
Health care providers
Health education
Health policy
Health systems
Health workforce
Primary health care
History of medicine
Nutrition
Occupational health and safety
One Health
Vaccine controversy
References
^Merriam-Webster. Dictionary - "Health", accessed 21 April 2011.
^World Health Organization. 1946. WHO definition of Health, Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19–22 June 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.
^World Health Organization. 2006. Constitution of the World Health Organization - Basic Documents, Forty-fifth edition, Supplement, October 2006.
^Callahan D. "The WHO definition of 'health'." The Hastings Center Studies, 1(3), 1973 - http://www.jstor.org/pss/3527467
^Jadad AR, O'Grady L. "How should health be defined?" BMJ 2008; 337:a2900 - http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/337/dec10_1/a2900
^ abcWorld Health Organization. The determinants of health. Geneva. Accessed 12 May 2011.
^Public Health Agency of Canada. What Determines Health? Ottawa. Accessed 12 May 2011.
^ abcLalonde, Marc. "A New Perspective on the Health of Canadians." Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services; 1974.
^Housman, Jeff; Dorman, Steve (September/October 2005). "The Alameda County Study: A Systematic, Chronological Review" (PDF). American Journal of Health Education (Reston, VA: American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) 36 (5): 302–308. ISSN 1055-6699. ERIC document number EJ792845. http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ792845. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
^World Health Organization. The world health report. Geneva.
^Georgia State University. 1998. Health Triangle Slides.
^Nutter S. 2003. The Health Triangle. Anchor Points, Inc.
^World Health Organization. The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. Adopted at the First International Conference on Health Promotion, Ottawa, 21 November 1986 - WHO/HPR/HEP/95.1.
^Housman & Dorman 2005, pp. 303–304. "The linear model supported previous findings, including regular exercise, limited alcohol consumption, abstinence from smoking, sleeping 7-8 hours a night, and maintenance of a healthy weight play an important role in promoting longevity and delaying illness and death." Citing Wingard Dl, B. L.; Berkman, L. F.; Brand, R. J. (1982). "A multivariate analysis of health-related practices: a nine-year mortality follow-up of the Alameda County Study". Am J Epidemiol116 (5): 765–775. PMID 7148802. edit
^Huber M et al. "How should we define health?" BMJ 2011;343 doi:10.1136/bmj.d4163 (Published 26 July 2011). Accessed 2 August 2011.
^UNESCO. The UN World Water Development Report: Facts and Figures - Meeting basic needs. Accessed 12 May 2011.
^Bjork J et al. "Recreational Values of the Natural Environment in Relation to Neighborhood Satisfaction, Physical Activity, Obesity and Well being." J Epidemiol Community Health 2008;62:e2
^World Health Organization (2050). Promoting Mental Health: Concepts, Emerging evidence, Practice: A report of the World Health Organization, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse in collaboration with the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation and the University of Melbourne. World Health Organization. Geneva.
^The numbers count: Mental disorders in America retrieved 5 September 2012
^C.-E. A. Winslow. 1920. "The Untilled Fields of Public Health," Science, n.s. 51.
^Association of Schools of Public Health. What is Public Health? Retrieved 2010-06-24
^Association of Schools of Public Health. Impact of Public Health. Retrieved 2010-6-24.
^World Health Organization. Life expectancy at birth, accessed 20 April 2011.
^Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 2008. Health in Everyday Living.
^Harris AHS, Thoresen CE. "Volunteering is Associated with Delayed Mortality in Older People: Analysis of the Longitudinal Study of Aging." Journal of Health Psychology, 2005; 10(6): 739–752.
^Schwingel A et al. "Continued work employment and volunteerism and mental well-being of older adults: Singapore longitudinal ageing studies." Age and Ageing, 2009; 38(5): 531-537.
^McEwen BS (2006). "Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators: central role of the brain". Dialogues Clin Neurosci8 (4): 367–81. PMC 3181832. PMID 17290796. //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181832/.
^HSE (Health and Safety Executive of Great Britain) Skin at work Retrieved on June 20, 2009
^"Skin Exposure & Effects". NIOSH Topics. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
^"The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
^"Occupational Safety and Health Administration". U.S. Department of Labor. http://www.osha.gov/. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
^"Health and Safety Executive". U.K. Health and Safety Executive. http://www.hse.gov.uk/. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
External links
Look up health in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Health
World Health Organization
UK National Health Service
Health On the Net Foundation
OECD Health Statistics
Health and Medical Information from the University of Colorado
Health-EU Portal, public health portal of the European Union
English Journal
Consumption habits and innovation potential of mung bean foods in hisar district of haryana state, India.
Dahiya PK1, Linnemann AR, Nout MJ, Van Boekel MA, Khetarpaul NK, Grewal RB.Author information 1a Center of Food Science and Technology and Department of Foods and Nutrition , CCS Haryana Agricultural University , Hisar , Haryana , India.AbstractConsumption habits for mung bean foods were assessed by the free word association method and interview techniques. Four groups of closely related products and perceived quality were revealed. The largest group comprised sweets and snacks, which were associated with unhealthiness, expensiveness and sensory liking. Another group consisted of split dhals associated with convenience and healthiness. It appeared that under different circumstances food choices vary and are influenced more by socioeconomic restrictions then by consumer perception and preferences. Scenario analysis based on consumer perception, preferences, practices and nutritional value of products revealed dhals as the most promising food for innovation.
Ecology of food and nutrition.Ecol Food Nutr.2014;53(2):171-92. doi: 10.1080/03670244.2013.807809.
Consumption habits for mung bean foods were assessed by the free word association method and interview techniques. Four groups of closely related products and perceived quality were revealed. The largest group comprised sweets and snacks, which were associated with unhealthiness, expensiveness and s
If it's good it must be bad: the indirect effect of temptation strength on self-control through perceived unhealthiness.
Kroese FM1, Evers C, de Ridder DT.Author information 1Utrecht University, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, P.O. Box 80.140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: F.M.Kroese@uu.nl.AbstractPrevious research has shown that people tend to consume less from foods they consider more tempting. However, the underlying mechanism for these counterintuitive findings is still unknown. The current paper is the first to test the theoretically implied suggestion that the effect of food temptation strength on consumption is indirect and can be explained through temptations' perceived unhealthiness. Two studies were conducted among female students who were concerned about their weight to test the effect of food temptation strength on perceived unhealthiness as well as the amount that was consumed of the products. Results showed that temptation strength was associated with unhealthiness such that weak temptations were - unjustly - perceived to be less unhealthy compared to strong temptations, while perceived unhealthiness was negatively related to indulgence. As a consequence, people may consume more from weak than from strong temptations. It is concluded that weak temptations tend to be underestimated and can be more challenging for successful self-regulation than strong temptations.
Previous research has shown that people tend to consume less from foods they consider more tempting. However, the underlying mechanism for these counterintuitive findings is still unknown. The current paper is the first to test the theoretically implied suggestion that the effect of food temptation
Discovering unhealthiness: evidence from cluster analysis.
Johar M1, Savage E.Author information 1Economics Discipline Group, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: Meliyanni.johar@uts.edu.au.AbstractPURPOSE: This study examines information on an array of health limitations, chronic conditions, treatments, and drug consumptions to reveal the prevalence and severity of unhealthiness that are not directly observed.
Annals of epidemiology.Ann Epidemiol.2013 Oct;23(10):614-9. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2013.07.015. Epub 2013 Aug 19.
PURPOSE: This study examines information on an array of health limitations, chronic conditions, treatments, and drug consumptions to reveal the prevalence and severity of unhealthiness that are not directly observed.METHODS: Cluster analysis is applied to 265,468 individuals who participated in the
Unhealthiness definition, not in a state of good or normal health; in an unsound, weak, or morbid condition. See more. Thesaurus Translator Reference Word of the Day Blog Slideshows Apps by Dictionary My Account Log Out ...
The architect should also have a knowledge of the study of medicine on account of the questions of climates, air, the healthiness and unhealthiness of sites, and the use of different waters. For without these considerations the ...
Translations of unhealthiness. unhealthiness synonyms, unhealthiness antonyms. Information about unhealthiness in the free online English dictionary and encyclopedia. unhealthiness - definition of unhealthiness by The Free ...
