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Health and Healthcare
Definition of Health
WHO Definition:
Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease.
Aspects of Health:
Physical health – Proper functioning of the body, absence of illness.
Mental health – Emotional and psychological well-being.
Social health – Healthy relationships and integration into society.
Factors Affecting Health
Factors Affecting Health:
Lifestyle – Diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management.
Genetics – Hereditary conditions and predispositions.
Environment – Pollution, living conditions, climate.
Healthcare access – Availability and affordability of medical services.
Education – Awareness about hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention.
Types of Healthcare
Primary care – First point of contact (e.g., general practitioners, family doctors).
Secondary care – Specialized medical services (e.g., hospital treatment, specialists).
Tertiary care – Advanced medical care (e.g., surgeries, cancer treatment).
Preventive care – Vaccinations, screenings, health education.
Healthcare Systems
Public healthcare – Government-funded, accessible to all (e.g., NHS in the UK).
Private healthcare – Paid services, often faster but more expensive.
Universal healthcare – A system ensuring medical care for all citizens.
Insurance-based healthcare – Funded through health insurance (e.g., the USA).
Common Diseases and Conditions
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs):
- Heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke.
- Often linked to lifestyle factors.
Communicable diseases:
Prevented through hygiene, vaccines, and public health measures.
Caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites (e.g., flu, tuberculosis, COVID-19).
Preventive Healthcare
Vaccinations – Protection against infectious diseases.
Regular check-ups – Early detection of potential health issues.
Healthy lifestyle – Balanced diet, physical activity, avoiding harmful substances.
Mental health care – Stress management, therapy, social support.
Global Health Challenges
Pandemics – Rapid spread of diseases (e.g., COVID-19, HIV/AIDS).
Antibiotic resistance – Growing resistance to antibiotics due to misuse.
Obesity and lifestyle diseases – Increasing due to poor diet and lack of exercise.
Healthcare inequality – Differences in healthcare access between countries and social groups.
The Future of Healthcare
Telemedicine – Remote consultations and online healthcare services.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medicine – Diagnosing diseases, robotic surgeries.
Personalized medicine – Treatments tailored to individuals based on genetics.
Medical research – Advances in biotechnology, new treatments for diseases.