The world health organization (2021) describes health as “a state of complete physical, mental and
social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” (para1 1). Health is more than
just physical. To be unhealthy is incomplete well-being. Social determinants, poverty, systemic
racism in all aspects of life make people unhealthy. It does not always have to do with pathology.
Health2030 groups social determinants in the following categories: Economic stability,
neighbourhood environments, education access, health access, and social community context (U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, 2020). When one or all of these are lacking it can cause
people to be unhealthy, which may not be a disease but lack of access to environments that can
create illness (I e. lack of healthy food, access to physician’s/hospitals nearby, education, etc.)
Inequality comes in many forms, and these inequalities can cause people to be unhealthy.
The word unhealthy does not always involve a pathology because health is a state of complete
physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Pathology as we know is the study of a disease, it is sometimes misused to mean disease as, for
example, the provider did not find any pathology" (meaning he found no evidence of disease).
(Medicinenet,2021) You could just not be healthy, little overweight due to your diet. Down the road
could a bad diet increase your chances of developing a disease absolutely but it also can be treated
by healthy food plan and exercise, no medications typically needed. Being unhealthy does not
automatically include a drug treatment? Not every condition requires drug treatments. If someone
is unhealthy develops diabetes for an example with healthy diet change could prevent someone to
have to start insulin, or any medication. Although there is no cure for type 2 diabetes, studies show
it is possible for some people to reverse it. Through diet changes and weight loss, you may be able
to reach and hold normal blood sugar levels without medication. This does not mean you are
completely cured (Michael Dansinger, MD c December 06, 2020)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is a state of complete physical, mental,
and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. They also defined health
“as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.”
To be unhealthy means that a person is physically unhealthy, and it can mean a person's attitude or
behaviour is not sensible or well balanced; abnormal and harmful. I believe if a person has a
disease, illness, or certain type of medical condition, that can mean they are unhealthy. A person
can be unhealthy, not only physically, but also spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and
psychologically. I feel like everyone has their own definition of what being unhealthy is. I feel as
though being unhealthy can also mean being unhealthy financially as well. I do not think the word
"unhealthy" automatically means pathology. I feel as though being unhealthy does not always mean
or lead to pathology.
I do not think being unhealthy automatically includes a drug treatment. Being unhealthy does not
always mean that a person needs a drug treatment. Some unhealthy people can get better without
drug treatment. Sometimes, all that is needed can be not considered drugs, for example a person
needing rest, needing to exercise more and be more active, changing their lifestyle habits (smoking
or drinking alcohol), and changing their environment which causes them to be unhealthy in regards
to stress. There are many different things an "unhealthy" person can do rather than using drug
treatment(s).
What does it mean to be unhealthy? I believe that being unhealthy comes in different ways of life.
Anyone can be unhealthy mentally, emotionally, physically and anatomy and physiology play a big
part in any unhealthy situation within the body and outside of the body. For example, unhealthy
condition can come from the environment (living condition) and sometimes it could be unhealthy
eating, unhealthy hygiene that can cause pathology condition to the body. Pathology does not
mean unhealthy, its meaning the study of suffering medical science concerned with the cause,
development, structural/functional changes, and Each disease entity develops through a series of
mechanistic chemical and cellular steps (Funkhouser,2009).
Does being unhealthy automatically include a drug treatment? unhealthy does not necessary need
drug treatment in every case or condition. When a person has a chronic unhealthy condition such as
chronic fatigue syndrome, the fatigue worsens with physical or mental activity, but does not
improve with rest. This condition is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (Mayoclinic,2020).
Is drug treatment always needed? It depends on the unhealthy condition within the person body.
Sometimes treatment might be needed if the unhealthy condition is a mentally disorder condition;
where the treatments can be medication that can assist with the disorder. Some unhealthy
condition can be a diet change or regular daily hygiene routine.
References
Funkhouser, W., (2009). Pathology: The Clinical Description of Human Disease. Molecular Pathology.
197-207
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-374417.00011.1
Mayo clinic (2020 September 24). Chronic fatigue syndrome.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/disease-conditions/chronic--fatigue/symptoms-causes/syc-20360490
Sartorius N. (2006). The meanings of health and its promotion. Croatian medical journal, 47(4), 662–
664. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2080455/
Millers, C. (2020). Changing Your Habits for Better Health. National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diet-
nutrition/changing-habits-better-health.
www.medicinenet.com/pathology/definition.htm
www.webmd.com/diabetes/medical-reference/default.htm
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Social determinants of health - healthy
people 2030. Health.gov. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/social-
determinants-health
World Health Organization. (2021). Constitution of the World Health Organization. Www.who.int.
https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution#:~:text=World%20Health%20Assembly%20%C
2%BB&text=Health%20is%20a%20state%20of
