An Overview Of Human Health
Health is a subjective state of mental, physical and social well being where infirmity and disease are absent. It also entails physical, emotional and social aspects of a person’s life. Health can be equated with the absence of sickness, pain, discomfort, or disease. It is the sum total of the ability to cope up with forces that are threatening one’s welfare and that enables the person to cope up with them. Health involves the whole body, mind and spirit including the relationships between the person and other people.
The struggle for defining health has taken a different shape in the twenty-first century. Whereas it was initially thought that health is subject to the improvement of technology, it is now understood by most health experts that defining health is also a process of improving existing technologies as well as identifying new ways of delivery of health care services. Technological change has also contributed to the progress in health research and advanced medical model. Technological change such as the development of medical imaging and computer assisted surgical procedures have helped researchers understand the pathophysiology of diseases better and have contributed to developing effective methods and procedure of treating diseases using advanced technologies. In addition, the increasing complexity of diseases and the associated complications have increased the need for complex treatments that involve major alterations in the lifestyles of individuals as well as the design of health care services and programs.
Defining health has become even more difficult owing to the complexity of modern life and to the wide range of diseases and their complications. A wide variety of modalities such as behavior therapy, exercise, psychotherapy and medication have been introduced to treat addictions to alcohol and drugs and other behavioral disorders. New technologies like immunology, neurophysiology, neurology and endocrinology have emerged to study these disorders and have provided insights into their treatment. These modalities have paved way for the definition and treatment of different types of addictions and the corresponding disorders.
There are two important dimensions of this definition: clinical and personal wellbeing. The definition of clinical wellbeing is the ability of an individual to function normally in day to day activities and to engage in regular activities without any special limitations or disability. On the other hand, the definition of personal wellbeing incorporates aspects of emotional well being, physical health and functionality of an individual.
The first dimension of good health is physical health. This includes ensuring that every organ of the body functions properly, ensuring a balanced diet and getting sufficient sleep. Mental health includes the ability to cope with stress and distress and the ability to perform tasks and develop activities. A healthy mind is necessary for the development of a healthy body. Psychological health can be positively affected by receiving regular therapy, undergoing psychiatric treatment and engaging in activities designed to improve mental health.
In order to achieve a complete physical, mental, emotional and social wellness, it is necessary to consider all the possible approaches and therapies available and choose the most appropriate one in accordance to the needs of the individual. The promotion of prevention of diseases can play a vital role in achieving total human health. In order to effectively fight against physical and mental illnesses, it is necessary to use preventive measures such as exercise, meditation, relaxation techniques, stress management and dietary modifications. By combining medication, therapy and preventive measures, the chances of contracting any disease are significantly reduced.