Health is the condition of every living being that enjoys absolute well-being both physically and mentally and socially, according to the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO). That is, the concept of health not only accounts for the non-appearance of diseases or conditions but goes beyond that. In other words, the idea of health can be explained as the degree of efficiency of the metabolism and the functions of a living being on a micro (cellular) and macro (social) scale.
If you only have a few seconds, read these key points:
- Health can be divided into two perspectives: physical and mental, although both are related and influence quality of life.
- Healthy habits, such as a balanced diet and the practice of sports, are fundamental to maintaining good physical and mental health.
- Anxiety, depression, and stress can cause eating disorders or addictions that affect physical health.
- Reproductive health is an important component of human well-being, including contraception, STD prevention, and infertility treatments.
- The State has a fundamental role in guaranteeing health as a human right, offering access to health services, and promoting healthy habits and disease prevention.
The importance of lifestyle
The lifestyle, that is, the type of habits and customs that a person possesses, can be beneficial for health, but it can also harm it or have a negative influence on it. An individual who maintains a balanced diet takes care of their nutrition, and performs physical activities on a daily basis is more likely to enjoy good health. On the contrary, a person who eats and drinks excessively does not have a good rest, smokes, and neglects his hygiene, runs a serious risk of suffering from preventable diseases.
An example of all this that we have pointed out in the previous paragraph could be the following: «Despite his 90 years, Manuel enjoyed iron health and throughout his life, he has always maintained good eating habits and has carried out the practice of a lot of sport».
Physical and mental health care
In broad terms, health can be recognized and analyzed from two perspectives: physical and mental, although in reality, these are two interrelated aspects that affect the quality of life. To maintain physical health in optimal conditions, it is recommended to exercise regularly and have a balanced and healthy diet, with a variety of nutrients and proteins.
Thus, it is important to emphasize that in order to enjoy good physical health it is necessary for the person in question to have a series of healthy eating and sports habits, as we have already indicated. Thus, with respect to the first aspect, it must be emphasized that the diets that are followed must be nutritious and balanced, avoiding as much as possible everything that refers to the intake of alcohol and other drugs, and also leaving tobacco aside.
As for the practice of sports, there are many disciplines that contribute to the individual enjoying good shape. Thus, you can carry out the practice of swimming, cycling, or jogging. However, it is true that in recent years the sports disciplines that have experienced the greatest growth are those that allow not only maintaining a good physical shape but also a mental balance. This would be the case, for example, of yoga or pilates.
Mental health, for its part, aims to bring together all the emotional and psychological factors that can condition every human being and force them to use their cognitive skills and sensitivity to function within a community and resolve any demands that may arise within the framework of everyday life.
Psychological factors that affect the body
It is important to be clear that the distinction between physical and mental health is usually more theoretical than real or practical. The limits between one and the other are blurred because emotional disorders can affect the body, and at the same time, an organic problem can affect the psyche.
Anxiety, depression, and stress can lead to eating disorders or addictions, for example, with the physical consequences that this entails. It is also possible to indicate that obesity and hypertension may be partly related to psychological issues, increasing the risk of a cerebrovascular accident or heart attack.
Sciences that contribute to the well-being
It should be noted that health sciences are those that allow obtaining the necessary knowledge to help prevent diseases and develop initiatives that promote the health and well-being of both a particular person and the community in general.
Biochemistry, food science, pharmacology, medicine, and psychology, among others, are sciences that contribute to the study of symptoms, the development of diagnoses, and the implementation of treatments and therapies aimed at healing, recovery, or rehabilitation of individuals, to mention a few possibilities.
Reproductive health
The so-called reproductive health is an important component of the well-being of the human being. The concept refers to what makes it possible to safely develop sexuality that is satisfactory, allowing the person to decide whether or not to have children.
Reproductive health encompasses contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies; the prevention of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases); and treatments against infertility. A related notion is maternal health, which contemplates care during pregnancy, seeks to ensure that the birth is carried out safely for both the mother and the baby, and provides assistance during the lactation stage.
The role of the state
In all dimensions and facets of health, the State has a fundamental role. In fact, health is a human right, and state authorities, through health policies, must ensure that all people have access to the health system.
Hospitals, in this sense, must have the necessary resources to provide adequate care. In addition to doctors, nurses, surgeons, psychologists, and other specialists, they have to have the infrastructure and equipment in line with the needs of the population.
In any case, the importance of working in preventive medicine and health education is often highlighted as a way of minimizing the need to go to clinics or doctor’s offices. Health promotion, encouraging healthy habits and awareness, is key.
The State, of course, should also be in charge of supplying vaccines to prevent infectious diseases and carrying out campaigns that reduce risks of contagion (as in the cases of COVID-19 and HIV / AIDS ), among other measures.
It must be emphasized that health cannot be subject to the economic situation of people. Private medicine, in the hands of companies that seek profit by offering their products and services, should always be a complement to public health and not a replacement.