Personal Health

not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".
[4] Although this definition was welcomed by some

as being innovative, it was also criticized for being vague and excessively broad and was not
construed as measurable. For a long time, it was set aside as an impractical ideal, with most
discussions of health returning to the practicality of the biomedical model. [5]
Just as there was a shift from viewing disease as a state to thinking of it as a process, the same shift
happened in definitions of health. Again, the WHO played a leading role when it fostered the
development of the health promotion movement in the 1980s. This brought in a new conception of
health, not as a state, but in dynamic terms of resiliency, in other words, as "a resource for living". In
1984, WHO revised the definition of health defined it as "the extent to which an individual or group is
able to realize aspirations and satisfy needs and to change or cope with the environment. Health is a
resource for everyday life, not the objective of living; it is a positive concept, emphasizing social and
personal resources, as well as physical capacities." [6] Thus, health referred to the ability to
maintain homeostasis and recover from adverse events. Mental, intellectual, emotional and social
health referred to a person's ability to handle stress, to acquire skills, to maintain relationships, all of
which form resources for resiliency and independent living.[5] This opens up many possibilities for
health to be taught, strengthened and learned.
Since the late 1970s, the federal Healthy People Program has been a visible component of the
United States' approach to improving population health. [7][8] In each decade, a new version of Healthy
People is issued,[9] featuring updated goals and identifying topic areas and quantifiable objectives for
health improvement during the succeeding ten years, with assessment at that point of progress or
lack thereof. Progress has been limited to many objectives, leading to concerns about the
effectiveness of Healthy People in shaping outcomes in the context of a decentralized and
uncoordinated US health system. Healthy People 2020 gives more prominence to health promotion
and preventive approaches and adds a substantive focus on the importance of addressing social
determinants of health. A new expanded digital interface facilitates use and dissemination rather
than bulky printed books as produced in the past. The impact of these changes to Healthy People
will be determined in the coming years.[10]
Systematic activities to prevent or cure health problems and promote good health in humans are
undertaken by health care providers. Applications with regard to animal health are covered by
the veterinary sciences. The term "healthy" is also widely used in the context of many types of non-
living organizations and their impacts for the benefit of humans, such as in the sense of healthy
communities, healthy cities or healthy environments. In addition to health care interventions and a
person's surroundings, a number of other factors are known to influence the health status of
individuals. These are referred to as the "determinants of health", which include the individu
Focusing more on lifestyle issues and their relationships with functional health, data from
the Alameda County Study suggested that people can improve their health via exercise,
enough sleep, spending time in nature, maintaining a healthy body weight, limiting alcohol use, and
avoiding smoking.[23] Health and illness can co-exist, as even people with multiple chronic diseases
or terminal illnesses can consider themselves healthy. [24]
The environment is often cited as an important factor influencing the health status of individuals. This
includes characteristics of the natural environment, the built environment and the social
environment. Factors such as clean water and air, adequate housing, and safe communities
and roads all have been found to contribute to good health, especially to the health of infants and
children.[14][25] Some studies have shown that a lack of neighborhood recreational spaces including
natural environment leads to lower levels of personal satisfaction and higher levels of obesity, linked
to lower overall health and well-being. [26] It has been demonstrated that increased time spent in
natural environments is associated with improved self-reported health, [27] suggesting that the positive
health benefits of natural space in urban neighborhoods should be taken into account in public
policy and land use.
Genetics, or inherited traits from parents, also play a role in determining the health status of
individuals and populations. This can encompass both the predisposition to certain diseases and
health conditions, as well as the habits and behaviors individuals develop through the lifestyle of
their families. For example, genetics may play a role in the manner in which people cope with stress,
either mental, emotional or physical. For example, obesity is a significant problem in the United
States that contributes to poor mental health and causes stress in the lives of many people. [28] One
difficulty is the issue raised by the debate over the relative strengths of genetics and oth

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not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".

[4] Although this definition was welcomed by some

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