Health

Overview of health and its determinants

A smallpox eradication team in the 1970s.

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The concept of health is central to the field of medicine and is a key focus of public health initiatives.

Determinants of Health

Health is influenced by a wide range of factors, often referred to as the social determinants of health. These include:

• Genetics
• Lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise
• Environmental factors
• Healthcare access and quality
• Socioeconomic status

Overweight or obese population in OECD countries, 2010.

Physical Health

Physical health refers to the condition of the body and its ability to perform bodily functions. It is maintained through:

• Nutrition
• Physical activity
• Sleep
• Avoidance of harmful behaviors such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption

Mental Health

Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how individuals think, feel, and act. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Public Health

Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing, and responding to infectious diseases.

Obese population in OECD countries, 2010.

Global Health

Global health is the health of populations in a global context and transcends the perspectives and concerns of individual nations. It is about worldwide health improvement, reduction of disparities, and protection against global threats that disregard national borders.

Healthcare Systems

Healthcare systems are organizations established to meet the health needs of target populations. They include:

• Primary care
• Secondary care
• Tertiary care

Preventive Medicine

Preventive medicine focuses on the health of individuals, communities, and defined populations. Its goal is to protect, promote, and maintain health and well-being and to prevent disease, disability, and death.

Nurses at Butawin Urban Clinic, Papua New Guinea.

Health Promotion

Health promotion involves the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. It moves beyond a focus on individual behavior towards a wide range of social and environmental interventions.

Related Pages

• Medicine
• Public health
• Mental health
• Nutrition
• Exercise

A 1933 New Zealand stamp promoting health.