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What is Health? The word health is one that could have a variety of meanings to a variety people. For example, a triathlete would define being healthy as being in good enough shape to complete a triathlon, while for a tiny infant it would just need to be free of viruses and diseases. Throughout a persons life the definition of health changes to fit their lifestyle and daily activities. Whether you’re a marathon runner or a retired war veteran the definition of health can be summed up as the general condition of a person.

To a newborn infant the term would be as simple as homeostasis. Newborns are required to remain in the hospitals for a few days after being born to ensure that everything in their fragile bodies are running properly. At this point in life a person lacks motor and decision making skills confining what the broad term means to them.

As a child grows and becomes more independent the term becomes more broad. Children begin to make more decisions that affect their lifestyle. As their lifestyle changes so does their definition of health. If they choose to play sports a child is going to need to be more physically fit than his straight A classmate to remain healthy. While the straight A student needs to remain more mentally fit to remain healthy. The term health is one that adapts from person to person to fit their various ways of living.

As a person continues to grow other unexpected events take place along the way also affecting what the term means to them. If a man going to work one day is hit by another motorist and is paralyzed the meaning of this term to him dramatically changes. This man could have been one who went from working out for hours each day to remain fit, his definition of health, to being confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life where the term would simply apply to his basic needs. So, as a person progresses through life’s journey their definition of health is shaped by things they chose and things they don’t.

To be healthy is a very broad statement. It is one that has a different meaning to every person. It is one that changes as a person ages. It is one that is affected by peoples decisions. It is one that can be changed in an instant. Health is a term that applies to every person, but means something different to everyone. So to determine what health means to a specific person you must first simplify it’s meaning to be the general condition of a person.