What exactly is health? Is it exactly the absence of disease and
illness, as Western medicine has held for centuries or does health embrace
other elements we ought to consider now that twenty-first century has begun?
Rather routinely national news magazines (and
other media) feature articles describing advances in modern medicine. These articles describe vividly in words and
images the impressive progress being made in fields such as cancer treatment,
gene manipulation, computer-aided surgery, and complementary medical care. Because of articles like this that relate
health to medical care, most of us continue to hold our traditional perception
of health as (1) the virtual absence of disease and illness (low levels of morbidity) and
(2) the ability to live a long life (reduced risk of mortality). However, in striving to be fully “health educated” in the new century, perhaps we need to consider a broader definition that more accurately reflects the demands associated with becoming functional and satisfied persons as we transition through each adult stage of life-young adulthood, middle adulthood, and finally, older adulthood. With this in mind, look forward to another definition of health-one that recognizes the importance of the more familiar definitions of health, but is focused on the demands of our own growth and development.
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