My personal definition of health is not only having good physical health, but good

mental, social, and spiritual health. It is about staying healthy in all phase of health and
not just in a physical state. A lot of people think that health only concerns your physical
outlook when thats not even half of the concern of trying to be and stay healthy. My
personal definition of Health education is to enlighten others on the other phases of
health. It is the education of being physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.
Explaining how to managing your stress level, how to properly exercise, how to be in
tune with ones self, and much more.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO, 1948). Also according to WHO,
Health education is any combination of learning experiences designed to help individuals
and communities improve their health, by increasing their knowledge or influencing their
attitudes. Another definition of health says, A perception of health or mental health is not
only defined within the medical context, but it is also defined by the patient within a
sociocultural context that includes family and social network as well as a wide selection
of potential providers. Such definitions may vary from one culture to another. Research
among ethnic groups in the U.S. demonstrates the complexity in a non-clinical definition
of health and illness (Maloof ,1991). Washington State Department of Health says that
Education for health begins with people. It hopes to motivate them with whatever
interests they may have in improving their living conditions. Its aim is to develop in them
a sense of responsibility for health conditions for themselves as individuals, as members
of families, and as communities. In communicable disease control, health education
commonly includes an appraisal of what is known by a population about a disease, an

assessment of habits and attitudes of the people as they relate to spread and frequency of
the disease, and the presentation of specific means to remedy observed deficiencies. For
children and adults, three main categories may be considered: physical appearance,
emotional disposition, and behavioral traits. For many adults, the functional component is
a critical factor in defining health or illness--in the absence of symptoms, there is no
disease. A world view of many cultural groups integrates physical, emotional, and
spiritual well-being, and holds that all three are necessary for optimal health. Even within
the biomedical model, cultural values are reflected when it comes to diagnosing and
treating disease (Helman 1990: 63-68). a combination of learning experiences designed
to facilitate voluntary actions conducive to health (Lawrence Green, 1962). All of these
definitions of health and health education show possibly three philosophies/theories
explained in our textbook. The social change philosophy, which talks about creating
social, economic, and political change that benefits the health of others; Behavioral
theory which talks about people making a change in their health because of others and
Freeing functioning philosophy which talks about people making the best decision for
themselves health wise.
A Practical example of Health and Health Education would be promoting stress
management. In my definition of health and health education I talked about managing
stress. Being a college student-athlete I understand the factor of stress being played in our
everyday life. By being an athlete in college, our everyday lives consist of having to go to
class, practice, homework, trying to find time for community service, trying find time eat
and sleep, try to have a way to have a window space for social life and a lot more. It can
be stressful at times. Managing your time and creating a schedule for your everyday life

can help control your stress of school and athletics by having a time slot for everything
that way you have time to do everything you have to do and not have to worry about
missing anything. This ay your grades stay up to par, you can manage your skill level in
your sport(s), and can still have a social life.