Definition of Health

The  most  embarrassing  question  one  can  put  to  physicians  is  probably:  What is  health?  Often  they  prevaricate  by  providing  the  evasive  non-definition:  the absence  of  disease.  The  inability  to  define health  is  surprising  if  one takes  into consideration how central  the concept of health  is  in present-day  society,  both on  the  individual  and  the  sociopolitical level. Countless policy  measures and  as many  personal endeavours are carried out to improve health, but  what  health is, remains obscure.  It  was this paradoxical state of affairs which promptedWill Wright (1982) to undertake  his study on The Social Logic of Health.  The author is a sociologist and has previously published a book on 'The Western'.  The argument  of the present study is predominantly philosophical.

Wright develops his argument by contrasting  his view  with four established opinions  about  health.  Firstly the view, which is common in medical circles, that health  refers only  to  the  physiological  state of  the human body and that it can be verified and measured by external technical  means. Secondly the opinion, found both  in the medical profession as well as among some advocates of holistic medicine, that health is a  concept  which  is  applicable  only  to  the  individual.

Thirdly,  that  health  can  be  divided  into  two  spheres:  mental  and  physical. Finally,  the  assumption  held  by  some  grand  theorists  in  social science, that  it is unavoidable  that  a  'healthy  society'  imposes  unhealthy conditions on at least someof it members.

Anthropologists and others who try to define 'health'  are  faced with a dilemma. On the one hand, there is  the Scylla of a too narrow  biomedical definition which does not seem to do justice to the full  human experience of feeling  well  (or not feeling well). On the other hand, they meet the Charybdis of a broad definition which declares almost anything in  the human environment part of the medical  domain. It is the latter point of view, the socalled  'medicali- zation',  which has been attacked by a great number of  authors,  such as Zola, Illich, Barbara and John  Ehrenreich, Crawford and De Swaan  I hope to demonstrate that Wright's argument, however interesting and  important, fails victim to what I have named the Charybdis.

Wright's  approach consists of carefully scrutinizing the meanings of 'health' and 'healthy' in everyday language. Starting from the patient-physician encounter he deduces  that patients have a much broader notion of health than 'the  right' functioning of  their  body'  The  fact that patients often  decide not to follow the doctor's instructions, is taken as an indication  that they also include phenomena in their health problem which  are not strictly medical. He continuously suggests new definitions  of  health  which he then tests by placing them in an ordinary context of people speaking about their 'health'. The  pithiest and  most  satisfactory definition he finds is:  "an  individual's  ability  to  be  fully human"

Wright is conscious of the fact  that a crucial test of this definition lies in the meaning of 'fully human.' He clearly rejects reduction to the biological mechanism of  the human body and emphasizes the social character of  being 'fully human.' At the same time he points out  that there are no universal, objective criteria to establish health, as often seems to be claimed by medical scientists. What is considered as 'natural' and 'ideally human' may differ from culture to culture. Wright's  most important thesis is that health is not a neutral but a moral concept; one which incites people to action. It is probably one of the strongest values in  human ethics, because no moral concept can be so easily brought back to a concrete empirical phenomenon as health. Moral concepts which are much harder to relate to tangible phenomena are justice,  freedom, peace and progress, for example.

Finally Wright attempts to convince  the reader that it is possible to create a 'healthy  society'  where optimal  'health' (following his own wide definition) is guaranteed for all. However, I am afraid that this is the least convincing section of his book. His reasoning reminds one of  the proof of God by the Scholastic philosopher Anselm:  what can be logically thought,  must also exist. Wright is certainly right in concluding that it is a contradiction to call a society 'healthy' if  in that society a part of the population is forced to live under miserable, unhealthy conditions. However, this observation does not yet  imply that a society where 'health' is attainable for all can be realized.

What is Health and Wellness

People often ask what is health and wellness?. There are a many definitions of healh and wellness. Below are some organizations and experts who defined health and wellness.
 
World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of Health

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity. 

The correct bibliographic citation for the definition is: Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.The Definition has not been amended since 1948.

The Alliance Institute for Integrative Medicine 

We view wellness as much more than just a state of physical health. It also encompasses emotional stability,
clear thinking, the ability to love, create, embrace change, exercise intuition and experience a continuing sense of spirituality. Our mission is for all who enter our doors to take one step closer to this state of vibrant health and well-being.

National Wellness Institute 

Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a more successful existence. The key words in this first sentence are process, aware, choices and success.  Process means that we never arrive at a point were there is no possibility of improving. Aware means that we are by our nature continuously seeking more information about how we can improve.

Choices means that we have considered a variety of options and select those that seem to be in our best interest. Success is determined by each individual to be their personal collection of accomplishments for their life. 

Wellness is multidimensional. A popular model adopted by many university, corporate, and public health programs encompasses 6 dimensions of wellness: 

1.   Social 
2.   Occupational  
3.   Spiritual  
4.   Physical  
5.   Intellectual  
6.   Emotional

 
What Wellness Means at ASU (Arizona State University)

Wellness is an active, lifelong process of becoming aware of choices and making decisions toward a more balanced and fulfilling life. Wellness involves choices about our lives and our priorities that determine our
lifestyles.

The wellness concept at ASU is centered on connections and the idea that the mind, body, spirit and community are all interrelated and interdependent

Webster’s 1913 Dictionary definition of  Health
 
The state of being hale, sound, or whole, in body, mind, or soul; especially, the state of being free from physical disease or pain.

University of Buffalo, The State University of New York re. Wellness

Wellness is the conscious development of the whole self. Embarking on a wellness journey is a process of searching for the appropriate "tools" to make you a healthier and happier human being, plus discovering your own effective methods to use these "tools" for continued growth and development. As there is a great variety on all aspects of life, there are also countless ways to cultivate yourself on an ever-changing path of wellness. 

The National Wellness Institute now recognizes eight "dimensions," or essential life areas which collectively comprise the wellness (well-being) of all human beings... 

The Eight Dimensions of Wellness:

1.   Spiritual 
2.   Emotional 
3.   Intellectual 
4.   Physical 
5.   Cultural 
6.   Occupational 
7.   Social 
8.   Environmental 
9.   Precepts for Wellness

It is important to see that all of the various concepts of wellness should include at least the following precepts:  

Holism - your health and well-being are the outcomes of the constant interaction between the several natural dimensions of life and wellness. Each dimension is inter-related with the others. The aim is to be conscious of
your self as a whole and complete person, living life as fully as possible.

Balance - while acknowledging the constantly changing nature of your life, you look to balance it by giving significant attention to each of the dimensions.

Lack of sufficient attention to any one dimension will result in less-than-optimal development as a person, and may possibly lead to chronic unhappiness. 

Self-Responsibility - a well person owns up to his or her responsibility for health and happiness and does not
allow others to take control over decisions he/she needs to make for him/herself. Self-responsibility presupposes self-awareness, including the process by which one becomes increasingly more aware of both the causes and consequences of his/her behavior. 

Positive and Proactive - wellness requires primarily positive perspectives and values by which to live. It also
requires a strong sense of purpose and conscious, deliberate action. 

These are our starting assumptions, and they have stood well through time. However, they provide merely a
simple framework. What you put inside that framework is totally up to you. We wish you well on your unique path to greater experiences of well-being.
 
According to Dorland's Medical Dictionary, the definition
of health is, "An optimal state of physical, mental and
social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity." 

Dr. Thomas M. Rau, Paracelsus Clinic In Biological Medicine, "illness is defined as a loss of regulatory capacity: that is, the inability to correctly respond to a wide variety of internal, environmental and lifestyle factors....Healing is defined as restoration of regulatory capacity"