When it comes to a person’s health, one’s overall well-being is usually considered a factor. It is the ability to be healthy in all aspects of life. However, the definition of health is a relative term that typically involves a person’s ability to function throughout their life. This also includes their capacity to enjoy life, whether this involves having a happy and fulfilling marriage, managing career and family, or even enjoying leisure time.
In the definition given by WHO, health is said to be “the absence of any disease, illness, impairment, or defect that affects the functioning of organs, tissues, muscles, emotions, or the physical capacity.” As a result, health is not just a state of being clean and well but it is an inclusive process that includes a person’s capacity to enjoy life. WHO goes on to define health as, “an adaptation to living in a society characterized by complete physical, emotional and social well-being.” This definition is important because it encourages people to seek treatment if they are diagnosed with a condition or disease that may affect their quality of life. By doing so, a person is recognizing that their condition is treatable and that their quality of life is capable of improvement. This is important because, as time goes on, diseases begin to progress and can cause more devastating consequences than before.
The second definition is slightly different from the first. It states that the absence of any disease or impairment does not necessarily mean a person is in perfect health. Rather, it is necessary to take into account the persons’ general health, which encompasses their capacity to live a regular and happy life. Because there are no absolute guarantees of a person’s health, the second definition is used to determine if a person has reached a level of disability that requires special consideration.
The third definition is a bit more controversial. According to this second definition, a person who dies suddenly or of any other cause does not meet the standards of health as defined by their health policy. Therefore, those who die of illnesses like cancer, AIDS, leukemia or other chronic conditions are considered to be unhealthy. The only exception to this rule is when the illness causes death due to negligence. This definition allows those who have experienced serious accidents or disabilities to be covered under their third definition of health.
This third definition of health is designed to allow for the existence of incurable or fatal diseases. In most cases, those who die of leukemia would fall under this category, because the disease often kills quickly without treatment. However, the definition does not state that all individuals who die of a disease are in a state of permanent disability. Depending upon a person’s age and health at the time of death, they could very well meet this third definition of health. This means that even though a patient may have advanced stages of cancer, they would still qualify for a coverage plan.
To sum it up, we have three definitions of health, each of which is associated with different degrees of disability and mortality. The definition associated with fatal diseases such as cancer is caused by their absence (terminal disease) and mortality (infection). The next most common definition is caused by their presence (incurable disease) and mortality. Lastly, the third, incurable definition, which represents those with incurable diseases, such as leukemia or AIDS.