The Concept of Health
Health is the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This definition was first used by the World Health Organization in 1948. However, it is still not clear enough in the context of new understandings of disease at cellular and genetic levels. This is because the concept of health focuses too much on an absence of disease and fails to address the factors that support human wellbeing. This is the premise of a theory called salutogenesis which proposes that we should seek to identify the factors that create health and not just those that eliminate disease.
The perception of health has shifted over time. In the early modern period, it was closely linked with Darwinian views of strength and survival of the fittest. Later, it became a utilitarian concept with the goal of enabling people to work for long periods of time and reduce absenteeism from illness. Currently, the concept of health is widely considered as an intrinsic right that should be guaranteed to every person in all countries.
One reason for this is that the concept of Health has become a political issue. Various groups have sought to define the concept of Health and the related concepts of wellness, happiness and life satisfaction in terms that reflect their own values. These concepts are also being influenced by the new knowledge about disease at molecular and individual levels.
People’s perception of Health is affected by their environment, culture and lifestyle. Some of these influences are caused by individual choices, such as whether or not to engage in risky behaviour, and others are structural, such as the availability of healthy foods. These are called the social determinants of health (SDOH) and contribute to wide gaps in health outcomes and risks.
A person’s perception of Health can also be influenced by the meaning that they attach to their life and purpose, and the sense of fulfilment or lack of it that they feel. This perception is also shaped by the cultural and historical context in which they live.
A key challenge for the future of health is that it no longer only involves preventing and treating diseases, but also includes promoting human flourishing and reducing inequalities in health and life chances. As a result, the health field is becoming increasingly multidisciplinary and collaborative. This is reflected in the increasing number of academic and practice-based partnerships, and the rise of interdisciplinary research. This trend will likely continue. In the future, we may see health professionals working in collaboration with other disciplines and sectors to promote human health and wellbeing, and tackle complex challenges such as globalisation and climate change. This will require a whole-of-system approach to health, and an appreciation of the interconnectedness of the various factors that influence it. This will be necessary to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential and live a healthy, fulfilling life.
Health is the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This definition was first used by the World Health Organization in 1948. However, it is still not clear enough in the context of new understandings of disease at cellular and genetic levels. This is because the concept of health focuses too much on an absence of disease and fails to address the factors that support human wellbeing. This is the premise of a theory called salutogenesis which proposes that we should seek to identify the factors that create health and not just those that eliminate disease. The perception of health has shifted over time. In the early modern period, it was closely linked with Darwinian views of strength and survival of the fittest. Later, it became a utilitarian concept with the goal of enabling people to work for long periods of time and reduce absenteeism from illness. Currently, the concept of health is widely considered as an intrinsic right that should be guaranteed to every person in all countries. One reason for this is that the concept of Health has become a political issue. Various groups have sought to define the concept of Health and the related concepts of wellness, happiness and life satisfaction in terms that reflect their own values. These concepts are also being influenced by the new knowledge about disease at molecular and individual levels. People’s perception of Health is affected by their environment, culture and lifestyle. Some of these influences are caused by individual choices, such as whether or not to engage in risky behaviour, and others are structural, such as the availability of healthy foods. These are called the social determinants of health (SDOH) and contribute to wide gaps in health outcomes and risks. A person’s perception of Health can also be influenced by the meaning that they attach to their life and purpose, and the sense of fulfilment or lack of it that they feel. This perception is also shaped by the cultural and historical context in which they live. A key challenge for the future of health is that it no longer only involves preventing and treating diseases, but also includes promoting human flourishing and reducing inequalities in health and life chances. As a result, the health field is becoming increasingly multidisciplinary and collaborative. This is reflected in the increasing number of academic and practice-based partnerships, and the rise of interdisciplinary research. This trend will likely continue. In the future, we may see health professionals working in collaboration with other disciplines and sectors to promote human health and wellbeing, and tackle complex challenges such as globalisation and climate change. This will require a whole-of-system approach to health, and an appreciation of the interconnectedness of the various factors that influence it. This will be necessary to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential and live a healthy, fulfilling life.