11-22-2004, 07:56 AM | #1 |
The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator
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What is health?
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.
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11-22-2004, 08:34 AM | #2 | ||
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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.
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11-22-2004, 09:35 AM | #3 |
Elf Lord
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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 * |
11-22-2004, 04:20 PM | #4 |
Lady Tipple & Queen of Blessed Thistle
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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"
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12-01-2004, 06:29 PM | #5 | |||||||
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12-02-2004, 05:01 AM | #6 |
Elf Lord
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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. |
12-03-2004, 08:42 AM | #7 | ||||||||
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And by harmful I mean something that damages your health. Crap. But seriously... harmful is something your immune system fights. Quote:
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Actually a little chocolate is good for you apparently. Quote:
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.
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12-03-2004, 10:31 AM | #8 |
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What Gaffer said, I think is very important. and I think the definition of health varys.
I also think mental health is maybe more important. if you are stressed, and don't have it quite good, you are easier receptive for illness. if you think you are sick, like hypochondriac, you will also be unhealthier.
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12-03-2004, 10:51 AM | #9 | |
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Folks may be interested in a web site which has the top ten "evidence-based" (i.e. there is good quality research evidence that they're true, and not just some snake oil salesman's.. er.. I mean doctor's opinion) tips for a healthy life. They are (from Bandolier 1) eat whole grain foods 4x per week (reduced risk of most cancers by 40%) 2) don't smoke (damn!) 3) eat 5 portions of fruit or veg per day (yes we all knew that already, no we don't do it) (protects against heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes) 4) eat Benecol instead of butter (reduces bad cholesterol, and no they weren't paid to say that) 5) drink alcohol regularly (WOO HOO!!!! *runs off to get pissed and fails to complete the list*) |
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12-04-2004, 12:22 AM | #10 | |
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Also, drinking enough water really does make a difference in your body's ability to take care of itself, and repair wounds or recover from illness more quickly. I'm not saying you should drink 8 glasses a day, 'cause, frankly, it varies from person to person, but even carrying a water bottle around really makes it easier to remember. Last edited by Embladyne : 12-04-2004 at 12:24 AM. |
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12-04-2004, 10:51 AM | #11 | |
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Proper nourishment is very important and one can't have good health if the body is malnourished. Having a balanced diet is important wtih lots of fresh fruits and veggies and of course water is key. Also smoking, blahh.. no good. Alchohol I've read has some healing qualities in small amounts, and chocolate is suppossed to be very healthy....too bad all the sugar and junk is added to it Another vital role in health is exercise. One can eat the best food in the world and be uptone, but without exercise the body can not reach it's optmum health.
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12-08-2004, 05:24 PM | #12 |
Enting
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I was asked, by an annoying kid I call Sod Off, 'Are you healthy?'. The next five minutes of my life was wasted by me asking 'Physical or mental?', 'Am I ill?', 'Do I eat healthy?' and so on.
Games throw a light on health: most games have a health bar. When you get hurt, the bar goes down. Things that hurt you, especially in RPGs, include both physical things (e.g. bullets) and psychic things (like... psychic things). Eating rotten food poisons you, drinking clean water heals you. By a gaming definition, health is you yourself. If you are unhealthy, something is wrong with you. Being in good health means no illnesses, fifty inch biceps, a perfect diet, denture-perfect teeth, no mental problems (including headaches), and no shortage of breath. Basically, nobody is in perfect health! ? You should be!
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12-08-2004, 06:48 PM | #13 | |
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12-08-2004, 07:06 PM | #14 | |||
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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.
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12-08-2004, 11:19 PM | #15 | |
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Nurv, I believe it was called "the vapors." And it does make more sense that women would be more prone to fainting at certain times, anyway. I'm fairly sure that women are probably more prone to anemia. But I'm no doctor. Heh.
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12-09-2004, 01:36 AM | #16 | ||
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I've heard that too. I think I might be anemic, nah, maybe not. But I've never fainted in my life anyway. I'm so tough I can bend rebar with my eyelids.
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12-09-2004, 05:14 AM | #17 | |
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