CONCEPT OF HEALTH AND

DISEASE
DR NARENDRA KUMAR YADAV
MD Community Medicine & Tropical Diseases, BPKIHS
QUESTIONS:

Q. Define health. What are its different dimensions?

Q. Define health. What are the original dimensions as defined by

the WHO ?

Q. Define health. Briefly describe the dimensions and

determinants of human health.
CHANGING CONCEPTS:

The concept of health is not fixed and evolves over time:

1. Biomedical concept

2. Ecological concept

3. Psychosocial concept

4. Holistic concept
CHANGING CONCEPTS: Cont.….

1. Biomedical Concept:
Health: Absence of disease
Based on: Germ theory of disease

2. Ecological Concept:

Health: Health as a dynamic equilibrium between man and his

environment, and disease a maladjustment of the human organism to
environment.
CHANGING CONCEPTS: Cont.….
3. Psychosocial Concept:

 Health is both a biological and social phenomenon.

Health: Health is combination of biomedical phenomenon, psychological

factors (thoughts, emotions, behaviors).

4. Holistic Concept (We follow it today):

The holistic model is a combination of all the above concepts.
Health: Health is physical, mental, social, economical, emotional,
environmental, nutritional, educational and spiritual.
 HEALTH (WHO):

HEALTH: Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being

and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity and an ability to lead a
socially and economically productive life.

Definition of health given by WHO includes the following dimensions:

1. Physical dimension

2. Mental dimension

3. Social dimension

4. Economical dimension
 DIMENSIONS OF HEALTH:

WHO definition envisages three specific dimensions: The physical, the

mental and the social dimension.
Health is multidimensional:

Environmental

Educational Economical

Nutritional
DIMENSIONS OF HEALTH:

Health is multidimensional:
1. Physical dimension
2. Mental dimension
3. Social dimension
Educational
4. Economical dimension
Environmental Economical
5. Spiritual dimension
6. Emotional dimension Nutritional
7. Vocational dimension
8. Nutritional dimension
9. Environmental dimension
10. Educational dimension
DIMENSIONS OF HEALTH: Cont.…
1. Physical dimension:

The physical dimension of health refers to perfect functioning of

the body.

The signs of physical health: Good complexion, a clean skin,

bright eyes, not too fat, a good appetite, sound sleep, regular
activity of bowels and bladder and smooth, easy, coordinated
bodily movements.
Evaluation of physical health: ABCD
DIMENSIONS OF HEALTH: Cont.…
2. Mental dimension:
Mental health is not only the absence of mental illness.

More recently, mental health has been defined as “a state of balance

between the individual and the surrounding world”.

3. Social dimension:
Social dimension is measured by the quantity and quality of an individual's
interpersonal ties and the extent of involvement with the community”.
DIMENSIONS OF HEALTH: Cont.…

4.Spiritual dimension:

The spiritual dimension refers to that part of the individual which strives for meaning
and purpose in life.

5. Emotional dimension:
Related to feeling: Example: feelings of happiness, and satisfaction with life.

6. Vocational dimension:

The vocational dimension refers to a source of income, occupation of an individual

and its impact on health and well-being.
Plays an important role in promoting both physical and mental health.
POSITIVE HEALTH:

Health does not merely mean the absence of disease or provision of

diagnostic, curative and preventive services.

WHO: Health also includes, a state of physical, mental and social well-
being.

Positive health predicts increased longevity, decreased expenditure on

health, healthy aging and better prognosis while ill.
 MCQ:
Q. Definition of health given by WHO includes all of the following dimensions,
except:

(a) Social

(b) Physical

(c) Mental

(d) Emotional

(e) Economical
ANS: (d) Emotional
CONCEPT OF WELL-BEING: