Health is something which you will hear discussed quite often on the morning breakfast shows with an expert coming to talk about a new health item to improve your quality of life. Or it can be discussed at a time when you are visiting family and friends. However, the question can sometimes be confusing what exactly health is. How does the view on health vary based on different perspectives.
The consensus of what health means based on the World Health Organization (WHO) definition: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
This can mean that health is shown to make up three factors surrounding physical, mental, and social well-being which are influenced by those you have around you and the communities you choose to be apart of.
Let’s delve into what the definitions of health are, what dimensions are related to health and if there are any specific determinants to health which all factor into you becoming a healthier version of yourself.
Let’s look at three definitions of health below:
Health as Physical Fitness – These are the outward appearance of individuals and based on whether they look muscular and a feeling of fit. (Males) and being slim, with shiny hair and bright eyes. (Females)
Health as a behaviour towards a healthy life – Having the energy and vitality to complete daily tasks without feeling fatigued continually.
Health as a social relationship – The enjoyment of helping others and being able to spend time with family members.
Health also has 5 dimensions which are also a factor of overall health:
Social Health – This is the various interpersonal relationships a person has and can make and maintain. The relationships individuals have with their family are some of the most influential, with other important relationships being that of friends and other social networks. These attributes can be strengthened by strong communication skills, accountability, and intimacy.
Mental Health – This how an individuals own state of wellbeing is and how they realize their own potential, can cope with normal daily stresses of life. It is also their ability to work productively and fruitfully and being able to contribute to their community.
Spiritual Health – An integral aspect of good health, as this also contributes to the overall health and wellbeing of the community. It allows an individual to find harmony and peace within their own lives, as well as developing a connection between actions and values. Stronger Spiritual health can increase an individual’s positivity and resilience during stressful events comparable to someone who has poor spiritual health.
Emotional Health – This relates to how an individual manages their own feelings and associated behaviours, when needing to cope with the pressure of situations and changes to their lifestyle. Being able to understand and accepting feelings and stressors whether positive or negative allows an individual to have good emotion health.
Physical Health – An individual’s physical health is defined as the absence of disease and the physical capabilities of individuals.
Determinants of Health – What is their influence on an individual:
The determinant of health is something which directly impacts an individual’s, community’s, or population’s health, either positively or negatively. These are usually outside an individuals’ complete control as they refer to environmental and circumstantial situations. There are three specific determinants of health which can be a factor these are:
· Social, economic, and political health
· Cultural health
· Population/Social health vs individual health
Social, Economic and Political: These are factors which are related to income, employment, education, social support, and housing. These are linked intricately to health. If an individual has a lower socioeconomic background, they will most likely have poorer health, and higher rates of illness, disability, and death.
Cultural Health: The cultural background of an individual can shape their concept of what health is. Many cultural sectors within society still hold onto historical views of what health is and have not yet separated the concepts of health from associated concepts such as fitness. Many cultures still believe that weight is a direct indicator of a person’s health or their fitness such as strength and what is gender specific.
Population/Social Health vs Individual Health: Both individual health and population health are intertwined together, and it is impacted by social constraints which are restrictions imposed by society whether through Government regulations, informed norms, or cultural preferences. However, Population health is for good health outcomes for all individuals. Whereas individual health is allowing an individual to look after their own health through access to private health services and media outlets encouraging health eating practices and exercise to obtain optimal health.
When we look at all the factors which bring together what Health really is, having an understanding for yourself can help you shape the journey you want to take to improving your health and wellbeing. Taking elements of all that has been discussed within this blog can help create a plan that is sustainable and lifelong. I would encourage you to seek guidance and invest in your journey so that you can reach your goals in a healthy and sustainable way.