Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is a condition of total physical, emotional and social well being and not just the absence of illness and disease. A number of definitions have historically been utilized for such purposes. One such definition is the critical need definition, which states that the prevention of death or disability due to illness or premature death is vital to the achievement of general health. Another such definition is the universally accepted definition, which refers to the necessity of preventive measures or the improvement of general well being for the benefit of all humans. Another important definition is the welfare definition, which defines health as having an optimum level of happiness achievable for an individual, for his family and for society. In recent years, a new concept, called health as a natural good, has begun to gain popularity, particularly in the Western world.
Many people are aware that the vast majority of serious diseases and death statistics around the globe are dominated by diseases and death related to unhealthy lifestyles, poverty and lack of education. However, very few people are aware that the incidence of many serious diseases such as cancer and heart disease is much higher in poor and developing countries than in more developed countries. Developed countries have high life expectancy rates, strong public health system and extensive resources to cure common diseases. Poor and developing countries have low life expectancy rates, less access to quality healthcare systems and poor economic resources to treat common diseases. This is one of the reasons why the prevalence of health problems is so much higher in poor and developing countries than in more developed countries. One of the most important ways to reduce the severity of such diseases is to adopt a healthy diet, which has been shown to be highly effective in reducing the prevalence and severity of such diseases.
There are a number of theories on the causes of illness. Some of these theories focus on the role of social factors such as individual beliefs and attitudes, biological background and environmental factors. However, scientists have recently proposed that a combination of both biological and environmental factors may be the real cause of illness. This theory suggests that the physiological effects of social and cultural behaviors, along with the impact of environmental factors like stress and toxins, are the real causes of illness.
As with any other field, public health also has its share of researchers, doctors and other experts devoted to researching the causes of illness. These researchers focus on particular areas such as genetics, lifestyle choices and environment. They also conduct epidemiological studies to determine the trends in the rise of certain diseases. It is these researchers who try to find explanations for why some individuals have better health conditions than others. They study the possible causes of the differences in health status among individuals and compile data to support their findings. The work of these researchers has helped them discover the real causes of illness and how changes in the lifestyle and environment can prevent or treat certain diseases.
Public health experts also try to identify the factors that cause people to get sick and what steps can be taken to prevent or treat a health problem. For example, they conduct studies to determine if cigarette smoking may play a role in the onset of heart disease or cancer. They also study communicable diseases such as diarrhea and hepatitis to identify how people become infected. They also study the relationship between diet and nutrition and chronic diseases. They try to identify the nutritional deficiencies that may lead to poor health and the development of chronic diseases. Lastly, they study the effect of environmental contaminants, like air pollution and chemical contaminants on the overall health condition of an individual.
Understanding the ways by which an illness develops can also help medical professionals develop a treatment plan. For example, researchers know that people who consume large amounts of saturated fats are more likely to develop heart disease. They also know that individuals who consume large amounts of processed foods are at greater risk of developing communicable diseases. By studying how these factors affect the development of illness, medical professionals can develop prevention and treatment plans for their patients.
