What is health? It can be measured, quantitatively, in terms of function, or in terms of the likelihood of an onset of disease. The medical profession has standardized health measurements and can declare an individual to be healthy or unhealthy. A health examination will typically include a variety of tests, some of which are descriptive rather than quantitative. These tests may indicate the presence of disease even in an otherwise healthy individual. In this article, we’ll briefly discuss some of the key aspects of health and how we can measure them.
The WHO defines health as a human resource that sustains a person’s physical and emotional well-being. The health care industry in the United States alone costs $3.5 trillion a year. Despite this, life expectancy in the U.S. is lower than in many other developed nations. This is a consequence of factors like access to healthcare, lifestyle habits, and economic status. However, health is vital for handling stress, living longer, and engaging in the physical activities that we enjoy.
In addition to health care access, equity is another major issue affecting Americans’ health. The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underserved and communities of color is an acknowledged and documented problem. To remedy this, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Health Equity in the U.S. that establishes a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. The Executive Order also directs HHS to conduct an outreach campaign aimed at building vaccine confidence among underserved communities.
While most tribal societies do not provide universal health coverage, there is a system in place that can provide this service for members of the community. These institutions are private, non-profit, and have a patient-majority governing board. They offer a wide range of medical services and treatments. For instance, they provide treatment for acute illnesses, preventative care, and health education. This is the foundation of modern medical care. For this reason, public health promotion is essential.
People are born with a variety of genes that determine their health. If they have unusual genetics, they can develop less-than-optimum health. Moreover, people can inherit genes from their parents that increase their risk for certain diseases. Despite genetic risk, environmental factors play a crucial role in determining health. When an individual is genetically predisposed to a certain disease, exposure to a particular environmental trigger can cause illness. Furthermore, environmental pollution levels and germs found in an environment can also influence a person’s health.
In addition to WHO, many members of the UN family support its efforts. The General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS all support health-related activities. For example, the United Nations Population Fund supports reproductive health, maternal health, and child development. The United Nations Children’s Fund funds health-related activities. So, how can we ensure that our world is healthy? There are many ways to do this!