Illness and Death in a Digital Society
In general, health is described as the condition of being fit and healthy. However, the definition of health has changed significantly over the years. The best definition of health is described as having a healthy body system capable of enduring normal physical activity and maintenance of psychological health. Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is defined as “a state of full physical, mental and emotional well-being and not just the absence of illness and infirmity.” Various definitions have been employed over the years for various purposes.
According to the third definition, health is the absence of disease or death from a disease process or occurrence. Disease processes include life course-related factors such as age-related changes in immunity, infectious diseases, accidents and violence. Death from any of these processes is not necessarily a pointer to poor health but can be an indicator of underlying pathology. The presence of a disease does not always indicate the presence of health problems. Illness can occur at any point along the life course of an individual, even without having a prior incidence of the illness.
By the second definition, well-being is the capacity to enjoy life. It is not just an absence of illness or disease but it also includes the capacity to work productively and live healthily. Well-being can be influenced by external factors. These include social, cultural, psychological and environmental factors. It is important to note that the definition of well-being is subjective and it depends on the person assessing the situation.
When people talk about illness and death they most often talk about a death experienced by a human being. This is because, illness and death are interdependent and one cannot exist without the other. When talking about health or absence of illness, what people mean is not just physical absence from disease but also a mental or emotional absence from sickness.
It has been noted that people who have a healthy, prosperous, supportive and happy life are those who don’t have any sense of lacking, lack or death. However, the current digital society is making people aware of illness and death in a different and richer way. In this society, absence of illness is seen to be a reflection of quality of life. A healthy, thriving and supportive life is a reflection of well-being in this new era.
There are many ways of measuring well-being. It can be stated that well-being is the sum of all the dimensions of healthy living. This is where an appropriate mental health, physical health and emotional health are measured as well as the quality of family life and community involvement. With the advent of a digital society, it is essential for people to take responsibility for their health and well-being. Illness and death should not be viewed as an inevitable part of life, but rather as a signal that something is wrong and that the person needs help.