Health Policy

The word health can have different meanings based on the location where it is being defined. The World Health Organization defines health as not just about being physically healthy it is also about the wellbeing of a person and society. This definition is accepted by most of society.

Introduction

Health is a primary state, and can not be defined (Bhatia, 2009). Health is considered a state of being disease free. Health is also defined as a complete harmony between our bodies and our organs (Bhatia, 2009).

The term health has many different meanings depending on location and timeframe. The World Health Organization defines health as not just about being physically healthy it is also about the wellbeing of a person and society. This definition is accepted by most of society. Each society will acquire their own definition of health based on many factors. The factors are behavioral, physical, social and biological (The perception and determinants of health, 2007). The meaning of health is very simply a state well-being mentally, physically and emotionally not just merely the absence of disease (The perception and determinants of health, 2007). Health is an obscure word. Many people who think that they are health may not be. And many people, who may have a disease, could still be considered reasonably healthy. The idea of health is a notion that just doesn't relate to the lack of disease, of healthy working organs, or having good thoughts. Health is a holistic concept. It relates to a person as a whole. Not just what you see but also what you feel. Health is composed of three parts; mental, emotional and physical health (Bhatia, 2009). Physical health is defined as a state in which all body parts are unharmed and working properly. This definition basically means that a person has all their body parts in the correct location and those body parts are performing their functions normally and harmoniously. Mental health is basically our ability to perceive. This involves the mind and how we comprehend, remember, think and judge; our reasoning and intellectual faculties. There really is no way to measure or define a person's emotional health. An emotionally healthy person can exhibit accurate emotional responses in relation to outside stimuli, they can express their emotions and they are able to regulate their responses to due emotions that have been generated.

The determinants of health are biological, behavioral, social and physical. Some biological factors affect specific populations more than others. Some biological factors are sex, age, inherited conditions, family history and health status. Behavioral factors include diet, hand washing, physical activity and alcohol, cigarette and drug use. Any positive changes in behavior could improve your risk of disease. Social factors include stress, tension, availability of resources, exposure to crime and violence, social norms and attitudes, social support, and socioeconomic conditions. A person's socioeconomic status could also affect their health and the capacity to attain quality health insurance and adequate preventative treatment and medical care. The presence of trash and poverty can affect a person's health. If a person does not have the resources necessary to meet their daily needs their health could be affected. Physical factor of health include air pollution, natural environment, worksites, exposure to toxins, housing, physical barriers (Determinants of health, n.d.). A person's health is affected by their surroundings. Changes in climate and exposure to toxic substances can harm a person. In areas where there are unhealthy levels of ozone or other air pollutants, the risk of asthma is much higher. Poor air quality