What is health?

[Earniel]

Last week in class we had a discussion just what one considers health. We came up with so many different views and nuances that I thought it'd be interesting to bring it up here.

So what would you, yourself, consider as health?

When would you consider yourself in good health, and when in bad health?

Is health determined by lacking nothing or just by having something?

Would having a disability or an allergy make you think of health differently?

Do you think there's an objective definition of health possible? Are there objective factors that can determine health?

I'd like to hear your ideas about this.

[Nurvingiel]

Very interesting Eärniel. I remember having a similar discussion in Anthropology 101, and it was brought up that health is a social construct.

In our society today, we largely define health according to some scientific standards, but as you pointed out, it's not the same for everyone.

If I had the flu, or a more serious illness, I'd say I wasn't healthy. Then I'd say I was healthy when I got better. This includes mental illness - mental health is important, and shoudn't be disregarded.

If I only had one arm (or some other disablity), I wouldn't say I was unhealthy.

About allergies... that is interesting. I have mild asthma and unidentified allergies, but if I am well in all other ways, I consider myself to be in full health. However, I think that I can increase my lung capacity, and when I do, I will have raised what I consider my personal 'upper limits' of health.

Right now, I have not been sleeping as much as I could, and I can still feel the effects of the cold I had. Because of that, I'm not at my own 'full health', but I think I do have good general health because I am very fortunate, and I don't have a chronic or serious illness, and (all joking aside) I'm in full mental health.

[The Gaffer]

Health is something we all take for granted until we haven't got it any more.

As Joni sang: "You don't know what you got till it's gone."

Having said that, you wouldn't want to go around wasting your health by being all grateful and paranoid about it the whole time, now would you?

* sparks up a tab and pours another gin *

[EarthBound]

I can never forget that Health is temporary, period. It is a finite condition finishing in death (of body, at least).

An unnerving notion that I carry with me is that those I love will at some time be gone realitively soon. Meaning, there will be a "last time" I see/talk/hear them. This is almost heartbreaking enough to send one into hermit-hood (is there a support group for hermits??? lol, get it get? yeah I know it was bad).

My belabored point is health is a fleeting & fickle attribute. We all want more of it (quantity) and at better quality.

Ok, now I need a beer.....* "heads to Pracing Pony"

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Nurvingiel

Very interesting Eärniel.

Thanks.

In our society today, we largely define health according to some scientific standards, but as you pointed out, it's not the same for everyone.

Which scientific standards would you take?

If I had the flu, or a more serious illness, I'd say I wasn't healthy. Then I'd say I was healthy when I got better.

Ah, but what means 'better'? That's also a tough nut to crack, IMO.

This includes mental illness - mental health is important, and shoudn't be disregarded.

Good of you to bring mental health in the discussion. Do you think it is as important as fysical health or less?

Originally Posted by The Gaffer

Health is something we all take for granted until we haven't got it any more.

As Joni sang: "You don't know what you got till it's gone."

Well put!

Having said that, you wouldn't want to go around wasting your health by being all grateful and paranoid about it the whole time, now would you?

* sparks up a tab and pours another gin *

Heheh. Couldn't agree more. *munches another bar of chocolate*

Originally Posted by EarthBound

I can never forget that Health is temporary, period. It is a finite condition finishing in death (of body, at least).

So everyone will eventually become 'unhealthy'?

[The Gaffer]

Yes, we all probably will. Most of the health care costs we incur during our lives happens in the last year of our life.

I suppose the exception would be getting run over by a bus or something.

Nice to have something to look forward to.

[Nurvingiel]

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Which scientific standards would you take?

I'm not totally sure... but one I would take is if a harmful virus, bacteria or parasite is hosted by your body, you have less than 100% health.
And by harmful I mean something that damages your health. Crap.
But seriously... harmful is something your immune system fights.

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Ah, but what means 'better'? That's also a tough nut to crack, IMO.

Better would be the removal of said harmful organism or its reduction to some acceptable level by your immune system.

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Good of you to bring mental health in the discussion. Do you think it is as important as fysical health or less?

Thanks. I think mental health is equal in importance to physical health, if not more. If you do not have good mental health, that will affect your physical health. Of course, poor physical health might effect your mental health too.

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Well put!

I agree with the Gaffer. (I do that fairly regularly. )

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Heheh. Couldn't agree more. *munches another bar of chocolate*

Me too! *eats chocolate* *drinks beer*
Actually a little chocolate is good for you apparently.

Originally Posted by Eärniel

So everyone will eventually become 'unhealthy'?

Or maybe just dead. Is dead unhealthy?

Actually I don't think it is. I think as you age, you become physically weaker. However, this doesn't make you unhealthy. If you're weakened by age but are not subsequently the host of harmful organisms, then I think you are not unhealthy. You could then die in your sleep, but not have been unhealthy.

[Valandil]

Originally Posted by Nurvingiel

Very interesting Eärniel. I remember having a similar discussion in Anthropology 101, and it was brought up that health is a social construct...

Those silly anthropologists seem to think EVERYTHING is a 'social construct'!!

[Nurvingiel]

Originally Posted by Valandil

Those silly anthropologists seem to think EVERYTHING is a 'social construct'!!

Everything in Anthropology.

Here's a good example though. 100 years ago, it was considered that women had the health problem of being prone to fainting or some such. Obviously that's not the case.

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Nurvingiel

Here's a good example though. 100 years ago, it was considered that women had the health problem of being prone to fainting or some such. Obviously that's not the case.

Must have been those thight corset they were wearing...