Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The Open Encyclopedia Project attempts to provide precise and relevant information in the Health categories for educational purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information contained on these pages and cannot be responsible for any harm or adverse outcomes as a consequence of relying on or using this material. People who intend to rely or use this information as clinical advice or for treatment are advised not to but should consult an appropriate registered (licensed) medical professional.

General Information

Health is broadly defined as the physical and mental state of well-being in an organism. This can refer to the condition of the entire body or to a specific organ or function of the organism.

Health is a relative term, based on measurements that fall within a range of averages observed in a "normal" population. One must also consider individualized factors (e.g., age, weight, height) in determining the degree of health in a person. For instance, a normal heart rate for a child is higher than that of an adult. Similarly, a weight of 100 lb may be inadequate for one person, while the same weight may be considered too much for another.

Health can be compromised by a number of factors, such as age, trauma, genetics, and infection. The possible causes for diseases are innumerable; there is still much to learn and discover about them. The health care field has traditionally focused on the detection and treatment of such diseases. Newer approaches have emphasized health prevention and, on the opposite end of the spectrum, being able to provide a dignified death in the case of terminal illnesses.