The Meaning and Concept of Health
Health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of any kind.
It is an essential requirement of human life that individuals be able to function in society and achieve the goals of their lives. This involves a healthy mind, body and spirit, as well as an environment that is safe for the individual and his or her family.
The notion of health has been viewed in many ways throughout history, with the definition of health changing over time and depending on the context. For example, the concept of health has been defined as a state of complete physical and mental well-being, as a positive or normal phenomenon and even as a state of perfect or optimum wellness. Despite the different views of health, there is consensus that a definition of health should be a broad and inclusive one.
Modern medical sciences have made a number of important advances in the knowledge of diseases and their causes, as well as in the treatment of some of them. However, there are still diseases that are not easily identifiable or treated. In addition, there are new threats and challenges to health due to changes in lifestyle and the environment.
In the context of this context, it is vital to continue researching the many facets of health and developing means of protecting, promoting and improving health for everyone. The concepts of health should be expanded to include the animate as well as inanimate environment, and to incorporate the social dimension of human life in addition to its material dimensions. The goal should be a holistic approach to health that includes the ability to perform functions in an efficient and productive manner.
A number of scholars have developed definitions of health to reflect this wider view of the concept. For example, Canguilhem’s concept of normality takes the whole person and his or her relationships into account and defines health as a process through which a person is capable of adapting to his or her environment in a healthy way.
Other researchers have used qualitative methods to study the perceptions of lay people about the meaning and concept of health. For instance, Fugelli and Ingstad (25,26) studied the perceptions of Norwegian people living in different regions, environments and sites and from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds regarding the determinants of health. The result was that the people tended to emphasize the role of environmental factors in their health and wellbeing. Moreover, they believed that the effects of these factors differed by age and location. They also emphasized that the perceptions of people with similar socioeconomic and cultural background varied.
Health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of any kind. It is an essential requirement of human life that individuals be able to function in society and achieve the goals of their lives. This involves a healthy mind, body and spirit, as well as an environment that is safe for the individual and his or her family. The notion of health has been viewed in many ways throughout history, with the definition of health changing over time and depending on the context. For example, the concept of health has been defined as a state of complete physical and mental well-being, as a positive or normal phenomenon and even as a state of perfect or optimum wellness. Despite the different views of health, there is consensus that a definition of health should be a broad and inclusive one. Modern medical sciences have made a number of important advances in the knowledge of diseases and their causes, as well as in the treatment of some of them. However, there are still diseases that are not easily identifiable or treated. In addition, there are new threats and challenges to health due to changes in lifestyle and the environment. In the context of this context, it is vital to continue researching the many facets of health and developing means of protecting, promoting and improving health for everyone. The concepts of health should be expanded to include the animate as well as inanimate environment, and to incorporate the social dimension of human life in addition to its material dimensions. The goal should be a holistic approach to health that includes the ability to perform functions in an efficient and productive manner. A number of scholars have developed definitions of health to reflect this wider view of the concept. For example, Canguilhem’s concept of normality takes the whole person and his or her relationships into account and defines health as a process through which a person is capable of adapting to his or her environment in a healthy way. Other researchers have used qualitative methods to study the perceptions of lay people about the meaning and concept of health. For instance, Fugelli and Ingstad (25,26) studied the perceptions of Norwegian people living in different regions, environments and sites and from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds regarding the determinants of health. The result was that the people tended to emphasize the role of environmental factors in their health and wellbeing. Moreover, they believed that the effects of these factors differed by age and location. They also emphasized that the perceptions of people with similar socioeconomic and cultural background varied.