The Constitution of the World Health Organization(2005)

The Constitution of the World Health Organization(2005)

POST #1

The Constitution of the World Health Organization(2005), defined health “as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.” The writers of the Constitution were clearly aware of the tendency of seeing health as a state dependent on the presence or absence of diseases: so they added to that definition that an individual, if he is to be considered healthy, should not suffer from any disease (….“and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”).

Other definitions mark health as emotionally, mentally, physically stable. Even with disease, if managed you are still “healthy”

Eating well, exercising adds on to health value. It is different for different people. Different cultures involve different healthy habits and traditional requirements. Health is subjective to personal beliefs. What is morally and healthy correct for some, may be inadequate to others according to their preferences.

In all addition, we have to stick to what is physiologically required to sustain life in adequate conditions.

Post #2

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of health is by far the best known and most widely used, “a state of “complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” (International Health Conference, 1946, p. 1) But it is not a practical definition, and especially does not co-inside with the value based care era we are in. Medical professionals would be the only one to declare someone healthy, and truly who is there that is ever absent of any disease?

I worked in the ER and would take my turn triaging, I would begin by asking if they had any medical problems, so many 65> would tell me, “no I’m in great health I have no medical problems.” Then proceed to rattle off 10 medications they take for HTN, GERD, depression, gout etc. Or I would take their blood pressure and it would be 220/110 and the Blood sugar was 390, in AFIB, they too would say they were in perfect health but when pressed about when they saw their DR, “Oh I don’t see him, I’m not sick, I’m as healthy as a horse.

There are individuals who have high blood pressure but don’t know it because they don’t notice the symptoms, there are some who hear voices or have anxiety and depression but it doesn’t interfere with their normal life so they go about their day living and contributing in their communities, others who feel sick, worn out, in pain but with all the medical testing cannot find anything that shows why they feel like they do. Culture can change the definition of health as well, how they live with disease, seek medical attention, except treatment and how it influences their lives.

Rather than hunting down a population that is “absent of disease”, we need to find one that fits more segments of our population both in our communities, state, nation and not to mention globally.

Managing multiple diseases, maximizing function, optimizing medication regimens, prioritizing different health risks and outcomes, and preparing for end-of-life considerations are some of the areas that deserve to be included in basic definitions of health. (White 1975)