Health has two definitions. You’re probably treated by your healthcare professional following one definition. The definition of the World Health Organisation, the best known and oldest definition. For people with chronic diseases health, as defined by WHO, can’t be attained. Despite the best care. The good news is that a newer definition offers you a chance to get healthy, even with a chronic disease. Read this blog to discover your health potential.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” (WHO, 1948)
As shown above Health as defined by World Health organisation means perfect health. There’s no room for deviance. A person must be in the best state physiological, mentally and socially. This definition of health was defined after world war II in 1948 by all member states of the United States. The idea was to get all citizens in the best health possible after the world wars. Back then infectious diseases, and mental diseases linked to the wars, were the biggest threat for humanity. Biomedical sciences were on top speed to (hopefully) concur all diseases. This may explain how this definition appeared.
Right now, about 60 years later, the amount of people with chronic diseases has exploded. 60% percent of all deaths are due to chronic diseases. Chronic diseases include heart diseases, metabolic diseases, stroke, cancer and respiratory diseases.
All these people can never be healthy according to the definition of the world health organisation. Luckily the concept of positive health arose in 2012. Dr Huber of the Louis Bolk institute in the Netherlands wanted to figure what health nowadays means. As a physician and researcher herself she could not relate to the definition of World Health Organisation. After countless discussions and research on the subject Dr Huber stated following definition of health:
“Health as the ability to adapt and self-manage, in light of the physical, emotional and social challenges of life” (Huber, 2012)
This definition is also called the positive definition of health as anybody can be healthy. When you have a broken leg but you know how to deal with it in such way that it is not a restraint in your day-to-day life then you’re healthy. In the definition of WHO you’d be unhealthy. In Huber’s definition health is dynamic, WHO’s definition is not dynamic.
Huber scores health with 6 indicators:
- Physical functioning
- Mental functioning
- Daily functioning
- Social participation
- Spirituality
- Quality of Life
So in case you have a broken leg and you’re dealing with it: don’t bother reading next alinea’s. In all other cases: go on!
Now what do these indicators mean? The very first, physical functioning contains medical facts, medical observations, complaints and pain and energy. Mental functioning involves cognitive functioning, emotional state, self-respect, manageability, self-management and sense of coherence. The spiritual component consists of striving for ideals, future prospects, acceptance and meaning. Quality of life is the general well-being of individuals, the amount of experienced health and happiness. Social participation involves meaningful relationships, social contacts and social skills. Daily functioning contains all daily activities in one’s life.
My tips for staying healthy with a chronic/mental illness:
And as I am a supporter of sport, discover here why sports is good for you!
(- Sorry it’s only for the Dutch speaking)
Sources I used for this article:
Huber M, van Vliet M, Giezenberg M, et al. Towards a ‘patient-centred’ operationalisation of the new dynamic concept of health: a mixed methods study. BMJ Open 2016;5:e010091. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015- 010091
