WHO defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO, 1948). This definition was later clarified in 1986 by WHO that stated “Health is a resource for everyday life not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capabilities” (Nordqvist, C. 2017).
A fourth dimension was added to the WHO definition and this is Spiritual Health whereby a person has a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction with their own lives (Croat Med J., 2017 Dec; 58(6);431-435).
According to Machteld Huger and colleagues, they propose to change and emphasize health as the ability to adapt and self manage in the face of social, physical and emotional challenges. They feel that the 1848 WHO definition of health no longer fits in society due to the rise in chronic diseases (BMJ 2011;343: d4163).
People can live a long healthy life even if they have a chronic illness. I believe that mental health plays a vital role. A positive attitude and outlook is very important when living with chronic disease or illness.
With research and the continuous improvements in technology the results are people are living longer with chronic disease or illness. For example, a diagnosis of cancer may be viewed as living with cancer rather than dying from cancer.
Resources
Nordqvist,C.(2017, July 31). Health: What does good health really mean? Retrieved from
Concepts and definitions of health and health-related values in the knowledge landscapes of the digital society. (Croat Med J. 2017 Dec). Retrieved from https;//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles
How should we define Health? (BMJ 2011;343). Retrieved from https;//doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d4163.
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