Understanding the Influence of the Environment on Health
Health is an aspect of a person’s life that includes not only the absence of disease, but also a person’s ability to enjoy a high quality of life and be capable of adapting to change. It is a dynamic process that depends on the interaction between an individual’s genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.
Generally, health is considered to be a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. The World Health Organization defines it as “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.” Various nation states endorse this definition in their constitutions, with many ensuring that the right to healthcare is one of those rights.
A person can achieve a higher level of Health by following a healthy lifestyle, which involves regular exercise, balanced diet and adequate rest. The health of a person is also improved by seeking medical treatment when needed and avoiding unhealthful activities or environments.
There is also a growing recognition of the importance of health promotion and the role that individuals can play in their own wellness. This approach involves a partnership between the healthcare provider and the patient, with a focus on building skills and developing the abilities of patients to make healthy choices, set goals and take action.
A growing number of countries are adopting a broader, more integrated perspective on health that goes beyond medical interventions to address the root causes of poor health. This is known as the “biopsychosocial model” or the “triple helix.” The model takes into account all aspects of health, including social and psychological factors.
The environment has been shown to affect a person’s health, both directly and indirectly. Physical environmental factors include access to clean air and water, safe roads and communities, and affordable housing. Social environmental factors include education, employment, family circumstances and early childhood, income, and the availability of supportive networks. Changing these factors is therefore an important strategy for improving people’s health. However, there is still a great deal that we do not know about the influence of the environment on health. This is partly due to the complexity of the factors involved, and the difficulty in quantifying them. However, a better understanding of these factors is being achieved through the use of new information technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing. These techniques provide a more comprehensive picture of the environmental influences on health, and can help to identify priority areas for further research and action. This will in turn improve the delivery of healthcare and the quality of life for all. In addition, new information technologies are allowing us to link data on the environment with other sources of data in more meaningful ways, and are helping to develop and improve models for assessing, monitoring and managing environmental risks to health. This will help to ensure that healthcare services are delivered in ways that are sustainable and meet the needs of local populations. A key challenge will be to find ways of using this new information in a way that is both useful and accessible for all.
Health is an aspect of a person’s life that includes not only the absence of disease, but also a person’s ability to enjoy a high quality of life and be capable of adapting to change. It is a dynamic process that depends on the interaction between an individual’s genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Generally, health is considered to be a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. The World Health Organization defines it as “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.” Various nation states endorse this definition in their constitutions, with many ensuring that the right to healthcare is one of those rights. A person can achieve a higher level of Health by following a healthy lifestyle, which involves regular exercise, balanced diet and adequate rest. The health of a person is also improved by seeking medical treatment when needed and avoiding unhealthful activities or environments. There is also a growing recognition of the importance of health promotion and the role that individuals can play in their own wellness. This approach involves a partnership between the healthcare provider and the patient, with a focus on building skills and developing the abilities of patients to make healthy choices, set goals and take action. A growing number of countries are adopting a broader, more integrated perspective on health that goes beyond medical interventions to address the root causes of poor health. This is known as the “biopsychosocial model” or the “triple helix.” The model takes into account all aspects of health, including social and psychological factors. The environment has been shown to affect a person’s health, both directly and indirectly. Physical environmental factors include access to clean air and water, safe roads and communities, and affordable housing. Social environmental factors include education, employment, family circumstances and early childhood, income, and the availability of supportive networks. Changing these factors is therefore an important strategy for improving people’s health. However, there is still a great deal that we do not know about the influence of the environment on health. This is partly due to the complexity of the factors involved, and the difficulty in quantifying them. However, a better understanding of these factors is being achieved through the use of new information technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing. These techniques provide a more comprehensive picture of the environmental influences on health, and can help to identify priority areas for further research and action. This will in turn improve the delivery of healthcare and the quality of life for all. In addition, new information technologies are allowing us to link data on the environment with other sources of data in more meaningful ways, and are helping to develop and improve models for assessing, monitoring and managing environmental risks to health. This will help to ensure that healthcare services are delivered in ways that are sustainable and meet the needs of local populations. A key challenge will be to find ways of using this new information in a way that is both useful and accessible for all.