Health and Well-Being

Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is an “orderly condition of the body in its interaction with the environment and its own internal mechanisms.” A number of definitions have also been applied for various purposes over the years. These include the definition from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 1980: “the state of good health that enhances the ability to participate in society and contribute to the well being of persons.” In this broad sense, health may be achieved through prevention of disease, maintenance of good health, and enhancement of recovery or resiliency from disease. Prevention of disease means preventing illness; maintaining good health means maintaining good health; and enhancement of recovery or resiliency means increasing the speed with which disease can be recovered or resolved. The primary focus of this article is on health management and its related systems and processes.

There are three main objectives of public health: protecting the population; reducing morbidity and mortality; and promoting a healthy environment. The first two objectives are often achieved through the system of preventative care and promotion of healthy activity, attitudes, and choices. The third objective is achieved through utilization of healthcare by the population as a whole irrespective of their socioeconomic status. This article focuses on these three objectives.

Preventive care and promotion of healthy lifestyles are two of the main articles dealing with preventing and treating health problems. One of the major challenges facing the medical profession today is the rising rate of death due to preventable causes such as smoking and sedentary ways of life. A lot of money and effort is being spent on research in the field of medicine and on the development of better drugs to deal with health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. The article focuses on sleep deprivation as a major cause of health problems.

There are many reasons behind the alarming situation and one of the major articles focuses on how this phenomenon can be prevented or controlled. Public health experts have repeatedly stated that lack of sleep can lead to several complications in people’s lives including heart disease, hypertension, depression, and anxiety. Other article titles dealing with the topic include the relation between sleep deprivation and coronary artery disease. They also discuss about the relationship between sleep and gastrointestinal tract disorders and the relation between sleep deprivation and cancer.

This main article discusses the impact of mental illness, especially schizophrenia, on morbidity and mortality rates. It has been noted that people suffering from schizophrenia are more likely to have psychiatric illnesses as well. Schizophrenia is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment, even if the patient is not diagnosed with a mental illness at the onset. The article focuses on how understanding schizophrenia and trying to manage it can improve public health as well as the quality of life of individuals living with a mental illness.

One of the main articles examines the relationship between social determinants and obesity, as they have been conceptualized as possible determinants of overall health. As social determinants, these determinants refer to the influence of culture and tradition, ethnicity and wealth, and gender. Social determinants are believed to be especially influential in shaping unhealthy lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits. Some of the examples given include norms concerning gender roles, social status, and economic status. The research also indicates that social determinants can be influenced by environmental factors such as the prevalence of fast food chains in a community.