Health Equity and Managing Disease
Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is a state of full physical, emotional and social well being and not just the absence of sickness and disease. Different definitions have also been applied for various purposes over the years. For some people the word health may mean healthy mind and body. Other people may consider it to be an ideal state to live in. Still others consider it to be the state that one should strive to achieve throughout his or her life.
We all know that disease is the root of all evil and there is nothing we can do to avoid it. It is inevitable unless we work on preventing it from coming in the first place. Since prevention is better than cure, we may try to devise new ways of living that will help us attain the definition of health that we all deserve.
In our community we are working hard on achieving the goal of health equity. What is health to you may not be health to someone else. In the Franklin County community, a lot of efforts are being made to develop a system that will provide quality care without compromising service. The result of such efforts is that many people will be able to get well and live in Franklin County, if they need to. Health Equity has many components, including healthy food choices, fitness activities and educational opportunities.
One of the objectives of Health Equity is to make sure that no matter who you are or where your family comes from, you are provided with the very best possible healthcare available. By ensuring that no illness or disease is left behind, the goal of Healthy Equity is to ensure that every individual has a full and complete quality of life. The current effort focuses on three aspects that affect all individuals: the physical environment, the social environment and the economic environment. By making each of these elements healthier, you will be taking positive steps toward creating a more positive future for everyone.
One of the elements of health equity that impacts all three areas is the way that you eat. Research now shows that diet contributes to several factors that influence health. The recent study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that one in five adults nationwide suffers from some form of unhealthy diet, which can result in a variety of diseases and health conditions. This includes everything from coronary artery disease to type 2 diabetes. Along with this alarming statistic are alarming trends in the number of children and adults that are obese or overweight. Not only do these individuals suffer from higher rates of chronic disease, they are also at much greater risk for developing serious health complications later in life, such as heart disease or type 2 diabetes.
Health equity is about understanding all the needs of people as they age. This includes addressing the common behaviors and stressors that keep them healthy and fit, while also offering tools and resources to address their emotional health. Managing disease in this way may even prevent or ward off serious illness and premature death for those suffering from one or more of these “silent killers”.
