“Health” has a very specific meaning to those of us who care about our health. Health is essentially a condition of full well-being in which infirmity and illness are absent. A number of definitions have historically been used to describe this state. However, the medical community has recognized that there is more than one definition. Some people perceive health to be internal, with an absence of pain or discomfort on the part of the body. Other people see health as being external, having symptoms that manifest themselves in pain or discomfort.
What people perceive as health is a highly complex and interrelated concept that includes a person’s overall health, their physical state, their psychological state, and the extent to which they are exposed to a range of risk factors and other circumstances. The term “health” can also refer to a particular condition that affects an individual. In its most general sense, health signifies a state in which the body is able to sustain normal function. This state can be achieved through a balanced diet and a well-balanced lifestyle. This definition excludes diseases and other disorders, which can disrupt normal functioning.
Health and wellness therefore, refer to the ability to attain, sustain and maintain optimal health and optimal functioning. This can be achieved through a combination of practices that promote good health, the reduction of the risks of exposure to diseases and illnesses, and the reduction of the stressors that can interfere with health and wellness. The field of healthcare emphasizes prevention rather than cure. While diseases may be inevitable, preventing them can substantially reduce the impact of disease on daily life.
Prevention is always better than treatment. Therefore, it is important to adopt healthy lifestyle choices in order to control or reduce the impact of potential diseases. The public education and advocacy efforts of local, national and global healthcare organizations are attempting to establish healthy lifestyles by teaching about the causes and consequences of diseases, encouraging people to practice preventive care and, where necessary, to seek treatment for potential diseases. These efforts have had varying degrees of success.
There is an increasing recognition of the social aspect of public health. The increasing cost and lack of resources of the medical community to contribute to the perception that only the individual can control his or her own health conditions. In reality, there are many interrelated factors that can lead to a person developing one of the many public health conditions. These factors include unhealthy lifestyle choices, exposure to various environmental factors such as air pollution and tobacco smoke, nutrition deficiency, family history, age and gender.
Public health promotion has become an essential component of every country’s social policy. The promotion of good health has been recognized as a key element of improved overall economic performance. This policy is reflected in numerous public health programs that have been successfully implemented in different countries. These programs aim at improving the quality of life, reducing poverty and reducing the impact of diseases on the population. These programs include the provision of access to quality basic health services, promoting physical fitness and encouraging healthy diet.