Biological meaning and definition of health
In pathological physiology, health is viewed as a state of optimal adaptation of a person to constantly changing conditions of both the external and internal environment.
According to the official definition of the WHO (World Health Organization), health is not merely the absence of any diseases or physical defects, but a state of complete mental, physical, and social well-being.
The essence of the concept of "norm"
When diagnosing health or a developing pathology, specialists always rely on the fundamental concept of the norm.
The norm is understood as the state of optimal vital activity of the organism in specific, real conditions of its existence.
Relationship between the concepts of norm and health
An important relationship exists between the categories of health and norm:
- The concept of norm is broader than the concept of health.
- The term health is often used as a direct synonym for a normal state, but certain discrepancies between them are possible.
- A practically healthy person may well differ from generally accepted standards of the norm in society (e.g., in weight, height, body dimensions, intelligence level, or characteristics of communicative behavior).
Briefly: answers to topical questions
What is a premorbid state (pre-disease) and how is it related to norm and health?
A premorbid state (pre-disease) is a transitional state of the organism between health and disease, characterized as "neither disease nor health" (disease development syndrome). It is based on the overstrain of the adaptive, or sanogenetic, mechanisms of the body (sanus — healthy).
The connection with the norm lies in the fact that against the background of a pre-disease, exposure to an agent that is non-pathogenic under normal conditions can cause a disease. Such a state is observed:
- after a previous illness;
- under chronic, repeated stress;
- when living under the influence of extreme factors.
The norm is broader than health: the norm covers any variants of optimal vital activity, even with deviation from standards.
Class and exam questions
What is health from a biological perspective?
This is the body's capacity for full biological and social adaptation, as well as a state of optimal adaptation to a changing environment.
How does the World Health Organization define health?
The WHO defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, excluding only the simple absence of diseases.
Which is broader — health or norm?
The concept of "norm" is broader than the concept of "health". A person may be healthy yet have individual differences from generally accepted standards of the norm.
What else to study on this topic
- Homeostasis as the basis of vital activity
- Pathology and its manifestations
- Essence and development of disease
- Variants of functional state
- The concept of pre-disease
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