Health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being, and not simply the absence of disease or infirmity. It is the ability to realize one’s personal aspirations and potential in a changing total environment. In the past, a large portion of the public’s healthcare dollars were spent treating people who were already sick rather than preventing them from becoming sick in the first place. This is no longer the case, as people are realizing that their health is much more than simply their weight and blood pressure levels. They want to feel energized, enjoy life with their family and friends, and make healthy choices about the food they eat.
Those who choose to live a healthier lifestyle need to make many decisions that affect all aspects of their lives. They must make a choice to eat the right foods, get enough exercise, and be sure to drink plenty of water. It is also important to spend quality time with loved ones, because it has been proven that human interaction increases mood and decreases stress. Another aspect of health that is often overlooked is the environment that surrounds a person; for example, if they live in a city with lots of pollution and not much fresh air, it can negatively impact their health. The type of food that is consumed also has a great effect on a person’s health, as do the amount of sleep and the amount of stress that is experienced.
The traditional definition of health, based on the absence of disease or infirmity, is problematic for several reasons. It ignores the fact that some people are living with chronic diseases and do not actually meet this standard. It also ignores the fact that some people will never be able to live up to this standard; for example, a man who is used to living at sea level could suffer from shortness of breath and anemia after moving to a mountainous area with less oxygen.
In the 1980s, there was a change in how society thought about health. This shift allowed health improvement efforts to focus on a wide range of factors, including the prevention and control of diseases, the elimination of disability, and the promotion of functional capacity in a variety of areas (physical, emotional, psychosocial). This new concept of health was inspired by the health promotion movement that was developed by the World Health Organization. This new definition of health allows people to think about the things that matter most to them, and places a high value on the desire to be healthy and the ability to function. This approach to health is known as a person-centered approach. This concept of health is rooted in the idea that each individual has unique needs and desires, which are constantly being influenced by their surroundings. It is only through a partnership with the physician that it is possible to achieve a person-centered approach to health.