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 physical health
Walking back to happiness
Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry
Oct 07, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- A unique exercise programme which has been proven to help women living with depression has been unveiled by researchers from The University of Nottingham.
Nature Makes Us More Caring, Study Says (w/ Video)
Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry
Sep 30, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Want to be a better person? Commune with nature. Paying attention to the natural world not only makes you feel better, it makes you behave better, finds a new study to be published October ...
New study examines benefit of internet access, social media networking on seniors' health
Sep 17, 2009 |
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Many elderly adults are increasingly isolated and grapple with depression, loneliness and declines in physical health. The UAB Department of Sociology and Social Work will use a five-year, $1.9 million National Institute ...
Children with emotional difficulties at higher risk for adult obesity
Sep 11, 2009 |
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Previous research has shown that low self-esteem and emotional problems are found in people who are overweight or obese- but not which influences which. Research published today in the open access journal BMC Medicine, sheds ...
Study: Personality traits associated with stress and worry can be hazardous to your health
Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry
Aug 18, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Personality traits associated with chronic worrying can lead to earlier death, at least in part because these people are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, according ...
First human gene implicated in regulating length of human sleep
Aug 13, 2009 |
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Scientists have discovered the first gene involved in regulating the optimal length of human sleep, offering a window into a key aspect of slumber, an enigmatic phenomenon that is critical to human physical and mental health.
Walk, don't drive! Community promotion of physical activity has 2-fold benefit
Aug 03, 2009 |
3 / 5 (2) |
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About half of the car trips in the U.S. are less than five miles—a distance easily navigated by walking or cycling. Reducing short-distance car trips has many benefits—it decreases car accidents, has positive benefits for ...
Sick Children Affect Parents' Mental Health
Jul 17, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Caring for a child with health problems profoundly affects the physical health, mental health and work attendance of parents, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin ...
Pressure to Look Attractive Linked to Fear of Rejection in Men and Women
Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry
May 27, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- People who feel pressure to look attractive are more fearful of being rejected because of their appearance than are their peers, according to a new study by researchers at the University at Buffalo and the ...
Older people are not getting their five-a-day
Apr 29, 2009 |
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Research from the Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) reveals that older people are not eating enough fruit and vegetables.
Research finds human emotions hold sway over physical health worldwide
Mar 04, 2009 |
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A researcher from the University of Kansas has spearheaded a new investigation into the link between emotions and health. The research proves that positive emotions are critical for upkeep of physical health for people worldwide, ...
Top 10 kids health issues to watch
Jan 05, 2009 |
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As 2008 comes to a close, Akron, Ohio, Children's Hospital has compiled "10 Kids' Health Issues to Watch" in 2009. This year's list includes both mental and physical health issues. However, one common thread factors into ...
Hurricane Katrina increased mental and physical health problems in New Orleans by up to 3 times
Sep 03, 2008 |
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Half the residents of New Orleans were suffering from poor mental and physical health more than a year after their homes and community were devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, according to research published in ...
Causes for Sexual Dysfunction Change as People Age: Earlier experiences with multiple partners and STDs take their toll
Aug 13, 2008 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Sexual dysfunction is not an inevitable part of aging, but it is strongly related a number of factors, such as mental and physical health, demographics and lifetime experiences, many of which are interrelated, ...
