Health, in a living organism, can be understood as homeostasis – the state in which the organism is in balance, with inputs of energy and mass and outputs of energy and mass in approximate equilibrium (minus whatever mass is retained in the normal growth process), and the prospects for continued survival of the organism are positive.
In human beings, with the capacity to analyze and anticipate, health can be understood not only as immediate homeostasis – that is, everything being all right at the moment – but also subjectively as the understanding of the potential of the “healthful” balance being able to continue.
This understanding comes from somatic perception, including pain and discomfort, as well as cognitive perception, such as one’s knowing that they look well, are functioning as well as they always have, and knowing that no imminent external or internal risk endangers the healthful state.
In the late 20th century, the subjective perception of healthfulness in human beings came to be known as wellness.
Health science
Health science is a medical discipline of applied science which deals with human or animal health. There are two parts to health science: the study, research, and knowledge of health and the application of that knowledge to improve health, cure infectious diseases, and to understand how humans and animals function. Health science research builds on the pure sciences of biology, chemistry, and physics and also social sciences (for example medical sociology).
There are a wide range of traditional areas of health science. The most common areas are: medicine, nursing, midwifery, and various forms of therapy to supplement the healing process and restore proper activity (e.g.
recreational, physical occupational, speech, and respiratory). Health science includes both the study and application of preventing and curing human diseases and disorders. Medical doctors include physicians and
surgeons. There are many different branches of medicine; the other health care professions also have specialties or focus on specific populations or settings of care. Other less common medical areas include first aid and triage.
Dental health has grown in importance in recent decades making dentistry a major field of health sciences. Counselling, hospice care, home care, nutrition, medical social work, alternative medicine, pharmacology, and toxicology are all considered part of health science. Veterinary science is the health science dedicated exclusively to the care of animals.
Because health science deals with human life, issues of medical ethics, an important area of ethics, arise frequently. Medical ethics includes questions on topics such as a patient’s right to privacy. Euthanasia, abortion, human cloning and genetic engineering are especially controversial issues directly related to health science.
Health science fields are as old as the human race. Humans have always been in need of solutions to various health related issues, such as childbirth. With modern technology and the backing of the pure sciences, the scientific accuracy of these fields has greatly improved. Nevertheless, many cultures have and continue to use various herbs and other culturally specific solutions to help solve health problems. These solutions may or may not be backed by any scientific support.
There are a large number of health professions. The terms medicine and medical doctor or M.D. refer to allopathic medicine.
Health Professions
- Allopathic medicine
- Alexander Technique
- Chiropractic medicine
- Dentistry
- Genetic counseling
- Homeopathy
- Medical illustration
- Naturopathic medicine
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Occupational therapy
- Osteopathic medicine
- Pharmacology
- Physical therapy
- Physician assistant
- Podiatry
- Psychoanalysis
- Public health
- Physical Educators
- Social work
- Veterinary medicine
Spiritually based healing:
- Christian Science
- Faith healing
- Shamanism
- Johrei
Traditional and ethnic traditions:
- Ayurvedic medicine
- Chinese medicine
Acupuncture - Native American traditional healing
Certain “Health Professions” are of historical interest:
- Magnetic healing
- Mesmerism
- Phrenonolgy