How well do you know about Health and its Determinants?

Summary Title: Understanding Health and Factors Affecting It

• Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.

• Health can be promoted by healthful activities, such as regular physical exercise and adequate sleep, and by reducing or avoiding unhealthful activities or situations, such as smoking or excessive stress.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) proposed a definition of health in 1948 that linked health to well-being.

• The main determinants of health include the social and economic environment, the physical environment, and the person's individual characteristics and behaviors.

• Lifestyle choices are contributing factors to poor health in many cases, such as smoking cigarettes and excessive alcohol consumption.

• Mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to their community.

• Mental illnesses are the leading cause of disability in the US and Canada.

• An important way to maintain one's personal health is to have a healthy diet, including a variety of plant-based and animal-based foods that provide nutrients to the body.

• Physical exercise enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness.

• Sleep is an essential component to maintaining health and is vital for growth and development in children.

• The environment is often cited as an important factor influencing the health status of individuals.

• A major contributor to global ill health is the fact that approximately 1 billion people lack access to health care systems.Overview of Health Science, Medicine, Public Health, and Self-Care Strategies

• Health science is a branch of science that focuses on understanding how humans (and animals) function and applying that knowledge to improve health and prevent and cure diseases and other impairments. It includes sub-fields such as biology, biochemistry, physics, epidemiology, pharmacology, medical sociology, and more.

• The provision of medical care is classified into primary, secondary, and tertiary care categories. Primary care providers treat about 90% of medical visits, while secondary care is provided by specialists who are referred to by primary care providers, and tertiary care is provided by specialist hospitals or regional centers with diagnostic and treatment facilities not generally available at local hospitals.

• Public health is concerned with preventing and managing diseases, injuries, and other health conditions through surveillance of cases and promoting healthy behavior, communities, and environments. It has sub-fields such as epidemiology, biostatistics, health services, environmental health, community health, behavioral health, and occupational health.

• Personal health depends partially on the active, passive, and assisted cues people observe and adopt about their own health. These include personal actions for preventing or minimizing the effects of a disease, usually a chronic condition, through integrative care, as well as personal hygiene practices, such as bathing and washing hands with soap.

• Prolonged psychological stress may negatively impact health, and stress management is the application of methods to either reduce stress or increase tolerance to stress. Relaxation techniques are physical methods used to relieve stress, while psychological methods include cognitive therapy, meditation, and positive thinking.

• Many jobs present risks of disease, illness, and other long-term health problems, such as various forms of pneumoconiosis and asthma. Sedentary jobs can also present health problems, such as obesity and issues relating to stress and overwork.

• Occupational health is viewed as a social challenge by many governments, and public organizations have been formed to ensure the health and safety of workers. Examples include the British Health and Safety Executive and, in the United States, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.