Health – Short Notes

1. Meaning of Health

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or physical fitness.

2. Historical Concept of Health

• Early Greeks, including Hippocrates, and the Ayurvedic system believed health depended on the balance of certain body “humors.”
• The discovery of blood circulation by William Harvey and experimental measurement of body temperature later disproved the old humor-based hypothesis.
• Modern biology shows that the mind influences the immune system through neural and endocrine systems.
• Therefore, mental state can affect physical health.

3. Factors Affecting Health

Health is affected by:

1. Genetic disorders – inherited defects or deficiencies present from birth.
2. Infections
3. Lifestyle, including:
   • Food and water
   • Rest
   • Exercise
   • Personal habits

4. Importance of Good Health

Good health:

• Increases efficiency at work
• Improves productivity
• Contributes to economic prosperity
• Increases longevity
• Reduces infant mortality
• Reduces maternal mortality

5. How to Maintain Good Health

• Balanced diet
• Personal hygiene
• Regular exercise
• Yoga for physical and mental well-being
• Awareness about diseases
• Vaccination / Immunisation
• Proper disposal of wastes
• Control of disease vectors
• Hygienic food and water

6. Disease

When the functioning of one or more organs or body systems is adversely affected and signs and symptoms appear, a person is said to have a disease.

7. Types of Diseases

Diseases are broadly classified into:

• Infectious diseases – can be transmitted from one person to another.
• Non-infectious diseases – do not spread from person to person.

Examples mentioned:

• AIDS: an infectious disease that can be fatal.
• Cancer: a major cause of death among non-infectious diseases.
• Drug and alcohol abuse: adversely affect health.