The World Health Organization defines health as the state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Several factors influence health, such as the level of stress and the amount of exercise one does. Mental health is the ability to cope with stressful situations, learn new skills, and maintain relationships. In short, health is essential for life. Despite the importance of these factors, many people feel that their own health is not in good condition. The best way to address this situation is to change the focus of the definition of health.
The definition of health is based on quantitative criteria, such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Moreover, it may be characterized by an individual’s health based on the likelihood of developing a particular disease in the future. Besides, health is defined by the medical profession. This paradigm disregards the feelings and observation of the person concerned, and only if they agree with the medical criteria is the person considered healthy. This definition of “health” may be outdated.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as the capacity to meet basic needs and alter one’s environment. Furthermore, the report states that “health is a fundamental human right, regardless of race, religion, political beliefs, or socioeconomic status”. It also stresses the need for a common definition of the concept and the need for clear communication across a multidisciplinary field. For example, the term “public health” means health promotion. As a result of this, it has a broad scope.