When we talk about health, it is common for many people to think about physical health, whether a person suffers or does not suffer from a disease. However, The concept of health is much broader and covers other areas of our lives
There are different definitions of this concept, but one of the most accurate is that of the WHO, which was made public in the Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization, which was approved at the International Health Conference, held in New York in the year 1946. This definition, which has not been modified since then, states that health is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.”
Types of health, explained
We’ll see now What characteristics does each type of health present?
1. Physical health
Physical health refers to the general physical condition of people at a given time. It is the well-being of the body, and its optimal functioning. It is the absence of diseases and the good physiological functioning of the body Viral attacks or injuries have a negative effect on our physical health, which is also altered by other factors. That is why it is necessary:
2. Mental health
Mental health, which is also often called emotional health, is a complex concept, which It not only refers to whether or not a person suffers from a psychological disorder It is characterized by having a high level of self-esteem, feeling good about oneself, being motivated with life and having vital goals that help one live the days with optimism and hope, the capacity for resilience and coping with problems. and to enjoy emotional balance, autonomy and a life free of stress and excessive worries.
To improve emotional health, it is possible to follow some tips like these:
You can delve deeper into these tips in the article “Emotional health: 7 tips to improve it.”
3. Social health
Human beings are social beings, and Much of our well-being is determined by the conditions that surround us , that is, our environment. In fact, even our own identity is constructed and developed in interaction with others.
Now, social health is not simply the fact of having friends or not, but it has to do with our living conditions, such as having a stable job, economic stability, having access to health care, access to recreational activities. and leisure, etc.
Other types of health
In addition to the types of health mentioned in the previous lines, and which are part of the WHO definition, there are also other health classifications, as we will see below.
1. Sexual health
Sexual health is a state of physical, mental and social health that is related to sexuality, that is, enjoying our own body and having healthy sexual relationships. Sexual health problems can be varied. To find out more, you can read our article: “The 8 most common sexual problems and how to treat them”
2. Food health
Eating healthy is an important part of our body. Dietary health is related to the nutrients we ingest and with the quantities we eat, as well as the times in which we do it.
3. Environmental health
Environmental health is that which is linked to the environment in which a person lives That is, they are the external factors that affect a person. For example, the work environment can cause stress which, in turn, can cause psychological problems such as anxiety, insomnia and depression, but also physical problems, such as diarrhea or constipation.
Noise pollution of a place also refers to environmental health, because exposure to harmful noise can cause physical health consequences for a person.
4. Public health
It is collective health and the influence of political decisions when ensuring the health of a specific population It is related to protection managed by governments.
5. Economic health
A type of health based on enjoying good economic stability and on the balance between income and expenses, whether of a person or a financial project, not being negative.
6. Family health
The family is important in a person’s development and health, but there are families that are considered toxic because of their harmful influence because of their relational patterns Good family health positively affects its members.
7. Occupational health
Occupational health has to do with the application of measures that allow maintaining a positive work environment and that promote the well-being of employees In our article “12 signs that indicate you are in a toxic work environment” we delve into this topic.