Definitions of Health

Throughout history, health has been a subject of discussion and controversy. The World Health Organization has defined health as a state of complete well-being, free from disease or infirmity. Other definitions have come and gone, and today, many people refer to their own state of wellness as “health.” Listed below are some of the most common definitions of health. The World Wide Web is a good resource for learning about various definitions of health.

According to the World Health Organization, health is the condition of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. In a broader sense, health refers to one’s physical and mental capacities and includes everything from homeostasis to the capacity to recover from adverse events. In addition, health involves one’s ability to manage stress, acquire skills, and maintain relationships. Regardless of age or gender, the determinants of our health impact our quality of life, our physical and emotional well-being.

In today’s society, many health issues are rooted in societal inequities and structural injustices. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has disparate impacts on African Americans. The same can be said for police brutality and Asian hate crimes. This situation has created longstanding health disparities. Identifying and addressing these issues can help to mitigate the impacts of such events and reduce the need for unnecessarily expensive medical treatment.