Defining Health
Is a person healthy if they have no fever but are constantly stressed and lonely? According to modern science, the answer is no.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as:
“A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease.”
The Three Pillars of Health
Case Study: The New Student
Consider the story of a Grade 8 student who moved to a new city. He felt lonely, spent excessive time on screens, stopped eating well, and developed headaches.
- Physical Symptoms: Weight loss, sleeplessness, headaches.
- Root Cause: Social isolation (loneliness) and Mental stress.
- Solution: Reducing screen time and seeking social support (counsellor, making friends) improved his physical health.
This proves that mind and body are connected.
Note
Signs vs. Symptoms
- Symptom: What the patient feels (e.g., headache, pain, dizziness).
- Sign: What can be seen or measured (e.g., fever of F, rash, swelling).