Health
What is Health ?
Everyone has different point of view regarding Health. Most people consider health as a freedom from disease. Young persons think health as vitality to compete and fight. A wrestler would like strong muscular strength. A beautiful blonde would view health in smartness and slimness. A villager would consider health in having sturdy body where an urbaniser would think health as vitality to do all chores of life efficiently. The rich person thinks health as buoyant feelings which keep him or her cheerful. A social worker would view health as capacity to adjust with the environment and the society. A student considers health as stamina and strength to do the most and achieve the Best.
Considering health as absence from disease is a narrow concept. The wrong conception is due to general ill health and misery, as people are not living well. A positive concept is needed which will lead us to positive health. The pursuit of positive health will include help and advice in bringing up the child, nutrition, growth and development, immunity, maintenance, knowledge and care of body, exercise, proper rest and emotional satisfaction.
True Definition of Health
“Health is defined as quality of life which enables a person to live most and to serve best with normal feelings, sensation and functions.”
“Health means the smooth functioning of the body and a proper balance between the individual being and environments.”
W.H.O has defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental, social well being and not merely the absence or infirmity.”
Factors Influencing Health
“A healthy body is a guest chamber for the soul; a sick body is a prison.” (FRANCIS BECON)
There are some important factors which can influence on individuals health.
1). Personal Habits i.e. food, sleep, activity, hygiene, posture.
2). Hereditary plays a vital role in shaping the personality. This includes – Health and potency of the egg cell of the mother and sperm cell of the father, immunity from the mother, healthy growth of foetus during pregnancy, nutritional status of the family; eating habits of the clan and racial characteristics, hereditary disease.
3). Mental Attitude: Positive Attitude adds zest of life and increases health and strength. Adjustment and Accommodation lead to happiness. Negative, destructive, grumbling attitude lead to frustration, uneasiness and ill-health.
4). Environment: This means the surroundings, the climatic conditions, religious, socio-cultural and emotional conditions in which an individual is living. Internal environment include- the temperature of the body, normal functions of internal systems, chemistry and specific gravity of the blood, juices and secretions of the body, health and disease process within. External environment refers to cleanliness of clothes, house, school, office, street, light, and supply of pure water, availability and shortage of nourishing food stuff, atmosphere at occupational and professional places.
5). Socio-Cultural Influences: Superstitions, tradition, customs, food habits and fads, cooking practices, child rearing practices, population, urbanisation, family size, religions benefits and rituals poverty, ignorance, economic standard and purchasing power, governmental pattern.
