Health
hideAt the time of the creation of the World Health Organization (WHO), in 1948, Health was defined as being "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".
This definition invited nations to expand the conceptual framework of their health systems beyond issues related to the physical condition of individuals and their diseases, and it motivated us to focus our attention on what we now call social determinants of health. Consequently, WHO challenged political, academic, community, and professional organisations devoted to improving or preserving health to make the scope of their work explicit, including their rationale for allocating resources. This opened the door for public accountability [3].
Only a handful of publications have focused specifically on the definition of health and its evolution in the first 6 decades. Some of them highlight its lack of operational value and the problem created by use of the word "complete." Others declare the definition, which has not been modified since 1948, "simply a bad one." [4]. More recently, Smith suggested that it is "a ludicrous definition that would leave most of us unhealthy most of the time." [5].
In 1986, the WHO, in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, said that health is "a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities." Classification systems such as the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC), which is composed of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) also define health.
Overall health is achieved through a combination of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being, which, together is commonly referred to as the Health Triangle.
For more information about Health, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with human health
Want to live well? Harvard experts offer pragmatic pointers on getting healthy and staying there
Dec 17, 2009 |
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You are what you eat. You're also how you feel, how you exercise, how you sleep, how you handle money, how you relate to people, and what you value.
Toxic chemicals found in a third of children's toys: study
Dec 02, 2009 |
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A third of the most popular children's toys in the United States this year contain harmful chemicals including lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury, a US consumer group said Wednesday.
Search results for human health
A 'one health' approach to addressing emerging zoonoses: The HALI project in Tanzania
Dec 15, 2009 |
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In this week's PLoS Medicine, Jonna Mazet (University of California, Davis) and colleagues describe their work in the Tanzania-based HALI Project, which adopts the "One Health" approach to address emerging zoonoses, recogn ...
Disproportionate effects of global warming and pollution on disadvantaged communities
Dec 22, 2009 |
3.1 / 5 (9) |
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Global warming, pollution, and the environmental consequences of energy production impose a greater burden on low-income, disadvantaged communities, and strategies to prevent these inequities are urgently needed. A provocative ...
Study shows health care spending spurs economic growth
Dec 14, 2009 |
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As the national discussion of health care focuses on costs, a new study from North Carolina State University shows that it might be more accurate to think of health care spending as an investment that can spur economic growth. ...
Cell phones to provide picture of human interaction
Nov 24, 2009 |
4 / 5 (1) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Cell phones to their ears, a team of research participants will report their interpersonal interactions in real time to provide a better view of human behavior thanks to a $1 million grant from the National ...
Geneticist reveals molecular view of key epigenetic regulator
Dec 09, 2009 |
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In a paper published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Dr. Michael Kobor reported the structure and function of a key player in regulating chromatin in yeast and humans.
Study reveals people’s thoughts on living longer
Nov 30, 2009 |
4.7 / 5 (3) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- If people were given a pill to make them live longer what would they do with that extra time? According to a new study by University of Queensland researchers, they would spend it with their family.
Team makes breakthrough demonstration of pH-regulating protein
Dec 22, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
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Researchers have identified the protein mechanism that senses bicarbonate fluctuations and adjusts blood pH levels.
The therapeutic benefits of the human-animal bond
Other Sciences / Social Sciences
Nov 30, 2009 |
4.6 / 5 (5) |
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A pet owner knows the enormous joy and comfort that an animal can provide, especially in troubled times. Most pets are considered important members of the family and irreplaceable companions. A growing body of research now ...
Stem cell derived neurons for research relevant to Alzheimer's and Niemann-Pick type C diseases
Dec 09, 2009 |
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Stem cell derived neurons may allow scientists to determine whether breakdowns in the transport of proteins, lipids and other materials within cells trigger the neuronal death and neurodegeneration that characterize Alzheimer's ...
Cellphone powers back pain chip in Taiwan
Nov 27, 2009 |
4.3 / 5 (3) |
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Taiwanese researchers have developed a chip to treat backpain that is powered by mobile phone, a member of the team said Friday.
List of search results for human health
