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Health...
So, you're visiting this page because you're looking for advice on Health.
| And how does it differ from Wellness, or are they just the same thing. |
What is Health?
| But, before we go any further, just what is this illusive concept of HEALTH. |
A generally accepted definition of health is: a state of living free from disease or ailment.
Another widely accepted definition of health is that of the World Health Organisation (WHO): a dynamic state of complete
physical, mental, spiritual and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. (Proposed Definition. 101st
Session of the WHO Executive Board, Geneva, January 1998, Resolution EB101.R2). In more recent years, this statement has
been modified to include the ability to lead a "socially and economically productive life.
Health can thus be defined negatively (as above), as the absence of illness, or functionally, as the ability to cope with every-day
activities, or positively, as fitness and well being. Some argue that health cannot be defined as a state at all, but must be seen as
a process of continuous adjustment to the changing demands of living and of the changing meanings we give to life.
Health is the level of functional and/or metabolic efficiency of an organism at both the micro (cellular) and macro (social) level. In
the medical field, health is commonly defined as an organism's ability to efficiently respond to challenges (stressors) and effectively
restore and sustain a "state of balance," with inputs and outputs of energy and matter in equilibrium (allowing for growth). This is
known as “homeostasis”. Therefore, in any organism, health is a form of homeostasis that also implies good prospects for
continued survival. However, in sentient creatures such as humans, health is a broader concept.
Many people, consider health to be a unity and harmony within the mind, body and spirit, which is unique to each person, and is
as defined by that person. The level of health is, in part, determined by the ability to deal with and defend against stress. Health
is on a continuum with movements between a state of optimum well being and illness, which is defined as degrees of disharmony.
It is determined by physiological, psychological, socio-cultural, spiritual, and developmental stage variables.
It has also been suggested that there are four general determinants of health which he called "human biology", "environment",
"lifestyle", and "health care organisation" Health is maintained through the science and practice of medicine, but can also be
improved by individual effort - physical fitness, weight loss, a healthy diet, stress management training, and stopping smoking and
other substance abuse are examples of steps to improve one's health.
For the purpose of distinguishing between Health and Wellness, we will refer to the negative definition, and our Health pages will
contain content relevant to the removal of illness
Another widely accepted definition of health is that of the World Health Organisation (WHO): a dynamic state of complete
physical, mental, spiritual and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. (Proposed Definition. 101st
Session of the WHO Executive Board, Geneva, January 1998, Resolution EB101.R2). In more recent years, this statement has
been modified to include the ability to lead a "socially and economically productive life.
Health can thus be defined negatively (as above), as the absence of illness, or functionally, as the ability to cope with every-day
activities, or positively, as fitness and well being. Some argue that health cannot be defined as a state at all, but must be seen as
a process of continuous adjustment to the changing demands of living and of the changing meanings we give to life.
Health is the level of functional and/or metabolic efficiency of an organism at both the micro (cellular) and macro (social) level. In
the medical field, health is commonly defined as an organism's ability to efficiently respond to challenges (stressors) and effectively
restore and sustain a "state of balance," with inputs and outputs of energy and matter in equilibrium (allowing for growth). This is
known as “homeostasis”. Therefore, in any organism, health is a form of homeostasis that also implies good prospects for
continued survival. However, in sentient creatures such as humans, health is a broader concept.
Many people, consider health to be a unity and harmony within the mind, body and spirit, which is unique to each person, and is
as defined by that person. The level of health is, in part, determined by the ability to deal with and defend against stress. Health
is on a continuum with movements between a state of optimum well being and illness, which is defined as degrees of disharmony.
It is determined by physiological, psychological, socio-cultural, spiritual, and developmental stage variables.
It has also been suggested that there are four general determinants of health which he called "human biology", "environment",
"lifestyle", and "health care organisation" Health is maintained through the science and practice of medicine, but can also be
improved by individual effort - physical fitness, weight loss, a healthy diet, stress management training, and stopping smoking and
other substance abuse are examples of steps to improve one's health.
For the purpose of distinguishing between Health and Wellness, we will refer to the negative definition, and our Health pages will
contain content relevant to the removal of illness
Perhaps though, we should all heed the words of Wendy Churchill:
When we get sick in the West we think of it in terms of illness ‘coming to us’. We see ourselves as ‘struck’ by a disease or
'attacked' by a virus...
In the East... Rather than seeing it in terms of bad health coming to them, the Chinese see it as good health going away from
them. When we lose our good health, we develop various conditions and illnesses, either as a direct manifestation of our failing
health, or because in our weakened state our body has been unable to defend itself against bacteria and disease.
I still believe that this is so true. Sure, some illnesses do to a degree ‘strike’, but even my conventional doctor in hospital used the
words ‘run down’ to describe why I had been inflicted with this infection and why it may occur again.
So much of the ill health we suffer comes down to the emotional and mental state we are going through and both the emotional
and physical stress we put our bodies under. And this has always been the case. It’s not just a question of the stress of fast 21st
Century living that I think we can become a bit too obsessed about. People have always been stressed and the more stress they’
ve been under the more it has made them ill.
When we get sick in the West we think of it in terms of illness ‘coming to us’. We see ourselves as ‘struck’ by a disease or
'attacked' by a virus...
In the East... Rather than seeing it in terms of bad health coming to them, the Chinese see it as good health going away from
them. When we lose our good health, we develop various conditions and illnesses, either as a direct manifestation of our failing
health, or because in our weakened state our body has been unable to defend itself against bacteria and disease.
I still believe that this is so true. Sure, some illnesses do to a degree ‘strike’, but even my conventional doctor in hospital used the
words ‘run down’ to describe why I had been inflicted with this infection and why it may occur again.
So much of the ill health we suffer comes down to the emotional and mental state we are going through and both the emotional
and physical stress we put our bodies under. And this has always been the case. It’s not just a question of the stress of fast 21st
Century living that I think we can become a bit too obsessed about. People have always been stressed and the more stress they’
ve been under the more it has made them ill.
| (from an article entitled The Chinese Secret to Long Lasting Good Health) |
We have also found a couple of titles from the Nightingale Conant range of self development programmes highly useful (see
below). Both "Living Health" (Anthony Robbins) and "Active Healing, Better Health" (Dr Arnd Stein) are recommended.
below). Both "Living Health" (Anthony Robbins) and "Active Healing, Better Health" (Dr Arnd Stein) are recommended.
The Gaia Infostore
| © Copyright 2008 - Active Recovery - All Rights Reserved. The Gaia Centre for Holistic Therapy, 17 Frederick Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3BH email: info@gaiaholistics.co.uk Tel: 01509 551513 |
