The general definition of Health is as being "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".

In 1986, the WHO, in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, said health is "a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities". Good health is achieved through a combination of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being.

Physical fitness is defined as good body health, and is the result of regular exercise, proper diet and nutrition, and proper rest for physical recovery.

mental health is defined as "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community

Achieving health and remaining healthy is an ongoing process. Effective strategies for staying healthy and improving one's health include the following elements:

Personal health depends partially on the social structure of one's life. The maintenance of strong social relationships is linked to good health conditions, longevity, productivity, and a positive attitude.

Sports nutrition focuses the link between dietary supplements and athletic performance. One goal of sports nutrition is to maintain glycogen levels and prevent glycogen depletion. Another is to optimize energy levels and muscle tone.

Hygiene is the practice of keeping the body clean to prevent infection and illness, and the avoidance of contact with infectious agents. Hygiene practices include bathing, brushing and flossing teeth, washing hands especially before eating, washing food before it is eaten, cleaning food preparation utensils and surfaces before and after preparing meals, and many others. This may help prevent infection and illness.

Prolonged psychological stress may negatively impact health, such as by weakening the immune system and mind. Stress management is the application of methods to either reduce stress or increase tolerance to stress. Relaxation techniques are physical methods used to relieve stress.

Health care is the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well being through the services offered by the medical, nursing, and allied health professions.

Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organised efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals." It is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis.

Health science is the branch of science focused on health, and it includes many subdisciplines. There are two approaches to health science: the study and research of the human body and health-related issues to understand how humans (and animals) function, and the application of that knowledge to improve health and to prevent and cure diseases.

In the medical field, health is commonly defined as an organism's ability to efficiently respond to challenges (stressors) and effectively restore and sustain a "state of balance," known as homeostasis.

The LaLonde report suggested that there are four general determinants of health which he called "human biology", "environment", "lifestyle", and "healthcare organization" Thus, health is maintained through the science and practice of medicine, but can also be improved by individual effort. Physical fitness, weight loss, a healthy diet, stress management training and stopping smoking and other substance abuse are examples of steps to improve one's health.

An increasing measure of the health of populations is height, which is strongly regulated by nutrition and health care, among other standard of living and quality of life matters. The study of human growth, its regulators and its implications is known as axiology.

Wellness is a term sometimes used to describe the psychological state of being healthy, but is most often used in the field of alternative medicine to describe one's state of being.

Health Insurance is a policy that will pay specified sums for medical expenses or treatments. Health policies can offer many options and vary in their approaches to coverage.

Two questions small-business owners face when considering health insurance are "What kind of benefits should I buy?" and "How much should I pay?" Regarding the first, buy the benefits that will protect you, your employees and your families in case of emergency. Regarding the second, it depends on your age (and your employees' ages), gender, and whether families will be considered.







Be sure to explore the wide range of options available in health-care coverage today, including these:

Fee-for-service coverage provides eligible employees with the services of a doctor or hospital with partial or total reimbursement depending on the insurance company. Most insurance companies offer 80/20 plans; the insurance company pays 80 percent of the bill, and the employee pays 20 percent. The employee can go to any doctor he or she chooses, and the plan covers any service that is defined as medically necessary and specified in the plan.

Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) provide a range of benefits to employees at a fixed price with a minimal contribution (or sometimes no contribution) from the employee, as long as employees use doctors or hospitals specified in the plan. Usually, HMOs are set up so patients go to the managed-care-plan facilities. If a patient goes to a doctor or hospital outside the plan--except in case of an emergency or if the individual was traveling outside the plan's service area--no benefits are paid at all. Make sure the HMO has facilities near where your employees live and get feedback on the HMO's reputation in the community before you sign up.

Preferred provider organizations (PPOs) are considered managed fee-for-service plans because some restrictions are put in place to control the frequency and cost of health care. Under a PPO, arrangements are made among the providers, hospitals, and doctors to offer service at an alternative price--usually a lower price. Many times there's a co-pay amount, which means that employees pay $5 or $10 for each visit to doctors specified in the plan, and the insurance company pays the rest. PPOs differ from an HMO in that if an employee goes to a doctor not specified by the insurance company, the plan still partially covers it. There's usually a higher copay amount or a deductible with varying percentages.

A "flexible-benefit" plan allows employees to choose from different fringe benefits. If your workforce is largely white-collar, for example, they may appreciate a health program that encompasses an executive fitness program. Other health programs include vision care plans and rehabilitation for alcohol and substance abuse.

Aside from being concerned about the cost of your health-insurance plan, you should also look into the creditworthiness of the insurance provider. When choosing between two providers, go with the higher rated, established company, even if its cost is a little higher. That way, you can protect yourself from "insurer flight," which when an insurance carrier packs up its bags and leaves rather than meeting new mandates in your state.

If you've narrowed your choices down to two HMOs, ask each to name a private firm you can speak to that's already using their services. Given equal price and medical services, maybe one HMO has a simpler billing method or a superior consumer service division than the other does.

Growing enterprises need to know that government legislation requires businesses to offer continued coverage in health insurance benefits even after an employee has left. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) calls for this privilege to be extended to any worker in a firm with 20 or more full-time employees. Signed into law in 1986, COBRA demands compliance in both union and nonunion plans. Only two groups are exempt from complying with COBRA: churches or church-operated, tax-exempt organizations and federal or District of Columbia employers.

You, the employer, need only offer continued coverage--you don't have to pay for their coverage. Any ex-employee who elects to continue coverage must pay the full cost of that coverage. This includes both the employer and employee's share. Employees may elect to remain covered under the firm's plan for up to 19 months, and dependents can maintain coverage for up to 36 months. COBRA has imposed additional administrative burdens and potentially higher plan costs on virtually all group insurance plans. Managing and monitoring COBRA compliance procedures is necessary to avoid costly financial penalties involved with noncompliance. One penalty is loss of the corporation's tax deduction for its group insurance plan. The plan administrator, in a small firm, is subject to a personal fine for failing to notify an employee of his or her COBRA rights at each step of the termination or hiring process. COBRA provisions include advising all new and terminated employees, and all spouses, of their COBRA continuation rights in writing. Be sure that those electing continued coverage are removed from the plan as soon as they become covered under a new plan