CONCEPT OF HEALTH AND

DISEASE
By Rajdeep Gope
 The widely accepted definition of health is that given
by the World Health Organization ( 1948) in the
preamble to its constitution, which is as follows :

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and

social well-being and not merely an absence of
disease or infirmity"
 The physical dimension of health is probably the easiest to understand.

 The state of physical health implies the notion of "perfect functioning" of the
body in which each organ and cell is working in harmony with the optimum
capacity. However, the term "optimum" is not definable.

 It conceptualizes health biologically as a state.

 Signs of physical health :

• A good complexion.
• A clean skin.
• Bright eyes.
• Not too fatty.
• A sweet breath.
• A good appetite.
 • Sound sleep.
• Regular activities of bowels and bladder.
• Smooth, easy, and coordinated bodily movements.

 Evaluation of Physical Health :

 1. Self assessment of overall health.

 2. Inquiry about ill health and risk factors.

 3. Inquiry in to medications.

 4. Standardized questionnaire for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

 5. Clinical examinations.

 6. Nutritional and dietary history.

 7. Biochemical and laboratory investigations.

 More recently, mental health has been defined as "a state of balance between
the individual and the surrounding world, a state of harmony between oneself
and others, a co-existence between the realities of the self and that of other
people and that of the environment”.
 Earlier the body and mind were considered two separate entities. But these
are interrelated as physical illness can result mental illness and vice versa.

 How mental illness influence physical health has been shown in fig:
Decresed
Poor nutrition
Mental illness immune
intake
DEPRESSION system

Poor hygiene Prone to

infection

Physical
illness
 Characteristics of mentally healthy person :
 Mentally healthy person will be capable of making personal and social
adjustment.

 Mentally healthy person is free from internal conflicts.

 He faces problems and tries to solve them intelligently.

 He has good self control balances rationally and emotionally.

 He knows him self his needs problems and goals.

 He has strong sense of self esteem.

 He serches for identity.

 He lives a well balanced life means able to maintain the balance between work
rest and recreation.
 An individual is socially healthy if he is able to maintain harmonious
relationship with other members of society in which he lives.

 Social health rooted in “positive material environment” and “positive human

environment” which is concerned with the social network of the individual.

 The social dimension of health includes the levels of social skills one
possesses, social functioning and the ability to see oneself as a member of a
larger society.

 In general, social health takes into account that every individual is part of a
family and of wider community and focuses on social and economic
conditions and well-being of the "whole person" in the context of his social
network.
The social dimensions of health includes:
 Communication

 Intimacy

 Respect

 Equality

 Social functioning
 Spirituality means in touch with deeper self and exploration the purpose of
life, as people believe in some force that transcend physiology and
psychology of human beings.

 Proponents of holistic health believe that the time has come to give serious
consideration to the spiritual dimension and to the role this plays in health
and disease. Spiritual health in this context, refers to that part of the
individual which reaches out and strives for meaning and purpose in life. It is
the intangible "something" that transcends physiology and psychology.

 Meditations ,prayers, or spiritual gatherings are organized to maintain

spiritual health.
The Spiritual Dimensions of health includes:
 Love
 Charity
 Purpose
 Principles
 Ethics
 Integrity
 Hope Of Life
 Historically the mental and emotional dimensions have been seen as one
element. Emotional health is closely related to the mental health and is
considered as an important element of health.

 However, as more research becomes available a definite difference is

emerging. Mental and emotional aspects of health are now viewed as two
separate entities for human life.

 Cognition or knowing is related to the mental health whereas emotional

health is related to the feelings of a person.

 The emotional dimension recognizes awareness and acceptance and healthy

expression of one's feelings such as happiness, hope, love, joy, sadness,
anger, fear, and/or stress.
Emotional Dimension of Health includes:

 An emotionally healthy person has a positive thinking and is capable of coping

and adjusting self.

 An emotionally healthy person participates in all the activities which are

related to personal growth and his self esteem.

 Emotionally well people have the ability to express feelings freely and manage
feelings effectively.

 They are also aware of and accept a wide range of feelings in themselves and
others.
 The choice of profession, job satisfaction, career ambitions and personal
performance are all important components of this dimension.

 Physical work is usually associated with an improvement in physical capacity,

while goal achievement and self-realization in work are a source of
satisfaction and enhanced self-esteem.

 The importance of this dimension is exposed when individuals suddenly lose

their jobs or are faced with mandatory retirement. For many individuals, the
vocational dimension may be merely a source of income. To others, this
dimension represents the culmination of the efforts of other dimensions as
they function together to produce what the individual considers life
"success“.

 To be occupationally well, a person is ultimately doing exactly with what

they want to do in life and are comfortable with their future plans.
Vocational dimension of health can be assessed by:

 Assessing the satisfaction level at job.

 Facilities attached to the job.

 Behaviour of the management and administrator and of colleagues at

job.
A few other dimensions have also been suggested such as:
Philosophical Dimension
Cultural Dimension
Socio-economic Dimension
Environmental Dimension
Educational Dimension
Nutritional Dimension
Curative Dimension
Preventive Dimension.