Maintaining Good Health and Quality of Life Through Public Health
Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is a condition of “complete physical, mental and social development and not just the absence of sickness and infirmity.” A number of definitions have also been used over the years for different objectives. Most commonly, the term health is used to denote a state of good health. In this sense, it implies the absence of all diseases and disability. It is used in much the same way, to mean “sound health” and may also refer to “good health” or “excellent health.” The terms of better health and sound health differ in their use and meaning.
The study of health has many aspects and approaches. Public health sciences involves studying and monitoring the patterns and trends of diseases and prevention of diseases. Public health also applies to the promotion and protection of human health. These may include efforts aimed at nutrition, the measurement and evaluation of health, public awareness of health, research into causes and prevention of diseases, and evaluation of health education and preventive measures.
Public health aims at preventing diseases and maintaining the quality of life of the citizens. Prevention is better than cure. Public health is also concerned with the promotion and protection of healthy lifestyles and environments. Prevention can be achieved through practices that promote healthy diet, exercise, and limitation of personal and community exposure to diseases. Public programs that address the various aspects of healthy living are also prevalent in many countries. A healthy lifestyle includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, quit smoking and avoidance of the risk factors associated with diseases.
Good health care is essential for the maintenance of good health. The main function of health care is to maintain and restore the physical condition of a patient. A doctor not only treats the acute illness but also monitors and corrects the underlying cause of the illness as well. A multidisciplinary team approach is adopted for the diagnosis and treatment of common as well as complicated health problems.
The functions performed by public health agencies include assessment of overall health, determining the causes of health conditions, designing policies and programs, and providing assistance to the needy. These services are provided free of charge to all the residents of a country irrespective of their social status. The main article relating to public health services is the National Health Information Centre that is a permanent part of the Department of Health. This main article contains all the basic information about the service providers of health services.
Information on the various diseases that can affect a person is available in the main article. There are various other related articles that provide further details on the different health problems and their treatments. It is advisable to consult these articles if one wants to know more about the various diseases and their treatment options.