We all want to lead a healthy life. Being healthy means having good health. Some people call it ‘being happy’. But what exactly does it mean? Below is an explanation of the different meanings of health and some examples to see how important it is.
Mental health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is “the absence of mental disorder and the ability to lead a normal life, at the same time enjoying all the qualities that make up a happy life”. Various definitions have also been used over the years for various purposes. However, the WHO recommends that the definition of quality of life should include four key elements: e.g., enjoyment, involvement, contribution to community and society. In other words, it should include the four aspects of wellbeing.
The fourth element is contribution to well-being. It refers to your role in maintaining a good health. A good co-morbidity profile will consist of a high level of physical health and a low level of mental health or vice versa.
A major part of the definition of good wellbeing is to have a reasonable expectation of having well-being. This means that you would have a realistic idea about what you would achieve, if you were to be fit and healthy. You are also expected to have an understanding of the fact that you are prone to illness, if you are not living an active and healthy lifestyle. In this way, the medical model of well being is considered to have replaced the social model. The former relies on the collective effort of the individual to maintain a balance between physiological and mental health.
The concept of public health has replaced the belief that only physical illness is dangerous. It is now believed that even mental illnesses can lead to negative consequences. This new perspective has been developed on the basis of the knowledge that almost all diseases, even serious ones like cancer, are preventable. Prevention through appropriate diet, exercise, and regulation of exposure to toxins is considered to be an effective strategy for preventing the occurrence and spread of physical illnesses.
The fifth component that is associated with this new concept of the five elements is environmental quality. It refers to the overall quality of the life in which one finds oneself. This includes factors such as the absence of violence against girls and women, lack of poverty, clean water, and adequate education. An absence of disease also implies an absence of sickness. The definition of disease has evolved along with the understanding of how humans interact with each other and with the environment.