What is Health?
According to Dulaney et al. “Health is not defined by the absence of disease or suffering, but by the response to a series of life changes and events – health is not a static state, but a series of dynamic transitions during the course of life” (2017). This definition is a far cry from the World Health Organization’s 1948 definition of health “a state of complete physical, mental and social well -being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (Huber, 2011). Upon reviewing the literature, it seems that many different populations view health as an individualistic and personal experience throughout one’s life. The seminal Lalonde report introduced in 1974 (Glouberman & Millar, 2003) appears to have been a defining moment of health by using the determinants of health as opposed to a set state of complete well-being (Huber, 2011). The health promotional aspect of the determinants of health (including financial health, mental health, diet, exercise, social health, socioeconomic factors, etc) are what many individuals use to define their personal level of health.
When polled during a shift, many registered nurses I work with stated that they were “healthy”. When asked why they thought this they stated:
“I exercise”
“I eat right”
“I’m happy”
“I have a good paying job, house, kids”
Considering the WHO’s definition of health, this would be unfitting as some of these individuals suffer chronic illnesses like asthma, allergies, hypothyroidism, obesity, situational mental health issues, stress etc. Yet when asked- these individuals did not see this of themselves. Rather they viewed the quality of their life; the ability to take care of their self and their ability perform activities of daily living over their chronic conditions. This sentiment is echoed in multiple studies performed in patients diagnosed with hypertension, heart failure and cancer. Despite having a chronic and at times limited outlook on life- individuals still performed better with a plan, communication, diet and exercise, a good financial state and family support during their condition (Dulaney et al. 2017). They still viewed their health as “good” while in remission from cancer or while living life with well controlled heart failure, viewing the quality of their life over the quantity.
Ultimately I believe that health is an ever evolving state- viewed individually and is based on the individual’s belief of their presentation to the world.
Dulaney C, Wallace A S, Everett A S, et al. (February 15, 2017) Defining Health Across the Cancer Contiuum. Cureus 9(2): e1029. DOI 10.7759/cureus.1029
Glouberman S. (March 2003) Evolution of the Determinants of Health, Health Policy, and Health Information Systems in Canada. American Journal of Public Health 93(3). 388 - 392
Huber M. (July 30, 2011) Health: How Should We Define It? British Medical Journal 343(7817). 235-237
Lucyk K. (July 7, 2018) “It’s a tradition of naming injustice” An oral history of the social determinants of health – Canadian Reflections, 1960s-present. Population Health 6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2018.09.007
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