The human body is an amazing creation. There are many systems within the same body that function so well in a well-coordinated and integrated manner. No wonder it took some time to really understand the functioning of the human body and other related aspects. Today we have a better understanding of what constitutes health which also includes mental health. Let us take a look.
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What is Health? Why Is It Important?
According to the World Health Organization, Health is defined as the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health also reflects the metabolic and functional efficiency in living organisms.
Health is considered as a basic parameter to life. There are many things that can affect the health of the living organism, including the physical state of the body as well as the mind and the mental state. Being healthy equates to many positive attributes. It means more efficiency, more productivity at work, a better understanding of the environment as well as better longevity.
A healthy body is not only a good sign for the self but also for the economy. That is because if the population of a country is healthy and energetic, then the productivity goes up, leading to economic prosperity. Another aspect of good health is that it leads to lower infant and maternal mortality.
Browse more Topics under Human Health And Diseases
- Types of Diseases
- Immune System
- Antigen and Antibody
- Interferons and Lymphoid Organs
- Disorders of Immune System
- Vaccines and Immunisation
- Cancer
- Drugs and Alcohol Abuse
Mental Health
To maintain good health a variety of factors play a role. Some these include a well-balanced nutritious diet, regular exercise, and healthy lifestyle practices etc. apart from meditation or yoga that helps in maintaining a better mental health. In recent times we have understood that mental health of a person is just as important as physical well being.
In India, we have recently passed the Mental Health Act, 2017 which aims at providing health services to those suffering from mental illnesses and remove the stigma associated with it.
Diseases
The human body in its entirety should be able to function properly. If any of the organs or organ systems do not function properly, giving to rise to signs and symptoms of not being well, then it is said that the state of health is not good. However, the human body has this ability to repair itself and attack any foreign body entering it, thanks to the specialized functions that are performed within the body.
But, there are times when the body is invaded by microbes or microorganisms, that disrupt the effective functioning of the whole system. These microbes cause infection and cause a condition in the body that impairs the functioning of the infected organ/organ system. This condition is called a disease.
Any disease is generally accompanied by signs and symptoms that give us an indication that all is not well with the functioning of the bodily organs and systems. Thus these symptoms are used as indicators which help in diagnosing the type of disease.
Diseases can be of different types. Some may be passed on from one person to the other, while other diseases are not passed on to other people. Some diseases can be life-threatening and even fatal, resulting in death, if proper medication or treatment is not taken on time.
You can download Human Health and Diseases Cheat Sheet by clicking on the download button below
Solved Questions For You
Q: Health is
- Weight of body according to height
- Absence of disease or infirmity
- State of complete physical mental and social well being
- None of the above
Ans: The correct option is “C”. Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. It depends on three parameters physical, mental and social. It is a dynamic condition resulting from a body’s constant adjustment and adaptation in response to stresses and changes in the environment for maintaining an inner equilibrium called homeostasis.
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