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UNIT 1 Health and Human

Development

UNDERSTANDING HEALTH

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UNDERSTANDING HEALTH

DEFINITIONS OF HEALTH There are many ways of defining health, these definitions are

provided by health professionals. They are often negative, they refer

to disease and illness.

Health is measured by key indicators: such as statistics on lifeexpectancy, morbidity (level of disease in a population) and

mortality (number of deaths in a population).

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as a state

of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merelythe absence of disease

Add life expectancy, morbidity and mortality to your glossary.

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UNDERSTANDING HEALTH

The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (1986) defines health

as to reach a state of complete physical, mental and social well

being, an individual or group must be able to identify and to realiseaspirations, to satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the

environment. Health is, therefore, seen as a resource for everyday

life, not the objective for living. Health is a positive concept

emphasising social and personal resources, as well as physical

capacities.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) defines

health as a term relating to whether the body (which includes the

mind) is in a good or bad state. With good health the state of the

body and mind are such that a person feels and functions well, given

their circumstances, and can continue to do so for as long as

possible.

There is no one way of defining health, as there are many different

perspectives.

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UNDERSTANDING HEALTH

Complete Activity 2.2 page 23.

FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTH

Human Biology

Genetic composition is an important determinant of health. Genetic

influences include:

- length of life- presence of disease, such as muscular dystrophy

- chromosome abnormalities, such as Down syndrome

- some disease and disability associated with old age.

Lifestyle

Individual behaviour may impact on health.

- diet and exercise

- substance abuse (legal and illegal products)

- safety practices (seat belt use, driving when tired etc.)

- health related attitudes (immunisations, Pap smears, etc.)- avoidance of sexually transmitted diseases.

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UNDERSTANDING HEALTH

Physical Environment

Physical environment has a major impact on health.

- housing, water, sanitation and food

- air quality

- noise levels

- waste disposal

- food safety standards

- occupational health and safety practices

- pesticide and herbicide residues

- natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes and tsunamis

- climate change

- access to health care- level of medical technologies

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UNDERSTANDING HEALTH

Social Environment

Social factors in health include:- culture

- gender

- education

- economic status

- occupation

- social networks and social support

- marital status

- life events

- mobility

- use of health care services for prevention, treatment and

rehabilitation.

The Political and Economic environment can also have an affect on

health if a person is living in a state of war, civil unrest or isfinancially poor.

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Physical Health

Social Health Emotional

Health

Good Health

DIMENSIONS OF HEALTH

Understanding these dimensions will help you understand why some people have

good or bad health compared to others. This can lead to planning strategies topromote health and prevent poor health.

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UNDERSTANDING HEALTH

Physical Health

Optimal growth and physical development

Optimal working and presentation of the body

Usually means: - good muscle tone

- being within the healthy weight range for their height

- clear skin

- good mobility

- resisting disease and infection

- being free of pain

Good physical health changes with age. An elderly person may behealthy if they are mobile and use an hearing aid. Technology canincrease physical health of older people.

Genetic or inherited factors affect physical health, such ashaemophilia

Put the definition of physical health from page 25 in your glossary.

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UNDERSTANDING HEALTH

Emotional Health

A persons thoughts and feelings, understanding and recognising

appropriate emotions.

It describes self esteem, coping with everyday emotions, feeling

positive about life.

Belonging is important to emotional health. Belonging to family,friends, religion Alienation can negatively affect emotional health.

Relies on the development of relationships with people, whether

they be family, long term friendships, intimate relationships

Emotional health also means expressing appropriate emotions.

Inappropriate emotions include laughing at something sad or overreacting to small things.

Put the definition of emotional health from page 25 in your glossary.

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UNDERSTANDING HEALTH

Social Health

Based on interdependent social relationships or respectfulinteractions with people around you.

Being able to live in a community in an interdependent, cooperativeway is called being socially healthy.

Positive interactions with family, friends, school, work mates isimportant for social health.

Belonging or being accepted by others socially can have a directimpact on social health.

Put the definition of social health from page 25 in your glossary.

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UNDERSTANDING HEALTH

The dimensions of health are all linked.

Physical health will affect social and emotional health Social health will affect emotional health, and possibly physical

health.

Emotional health will affect social health, and possibly physical

health.

Describe an example of when a reduction in physical health, might

influence social and/or emotional health.