Beyond “Normal”: Optimal Levels of Medical Parameters for Assessing Positive Health

Abhaya Indrayan,Saumya Verma,Gayatri Vishwakarma,Sanjeev Sarmukaddam

doi:10.11648/j.ajim.20210904.12

Abstract

Background: Whereas the concept of normal levels of various parameters is extensively used in medical practice, the concept of optimal levels has not received much attention. We propose that it is time to pay attention to the optimal levels so that positive health can be measured. Objective: The objective is to define optimal levels of medical parameters as that combination which prevents the occurrence of ailments or gives strength to fight these ailments if they occur. Methods: A large number of articles and other literature was reviewed in search of medical parameters and their levels that could be considered to indicate optimal levels. Result: The optimal combination of medical parameters that prevents occurrence of ailments and gives strength to fight if an ailment occurs, is conceptually beyond the ‘normal’ levels that we use in everyday clinical practice and can be considered to indicate positive health. This is illustrated with the help of several examples after dividing the concept of positive health into five domains on the pattern of quality-of-life assessment. Conclusion: A concept of positive health has been proposed and its link to the optimal level of medical parameters is described. We plead that more efforts be made to identify the positive parameters of health, and their optimal levels that measure positive health be delineated.

Highlights

The oft quoted and perhaps the most widely accepted definition of health is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. [1] this is utopian and an unattainable ideal. [2] On the ground, health can be defined as that state of dynamic equilibrium of body, mind, and soul, when homeostasis is going on well and the person is able to carry out the routines of life without inhibition
Positive health can be considered as a state when the person is not just healthy but has Abhaya Indrayan et al.: Beyond “Normal”: Optimal Levels of Medical Parameters for Assessing Positive Health sufficient reserves to fight the illness if and when that strikes and is able to carry out the routines of life in a normal manner in adverse situations
Some knowledge is available on substances that protect from diseases, but the optimal combination required for sufficient protection is mostly not known

Summary

Introduction

The oft quoted and perhaps the most widely accepted definition of health is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. [1] this is utopian and an unattainable ideal. [2] On the ground, health can be defined as that state of dynamic equilibrium of body, mind, and soul, when homeostasis is going on well and the person is able to carry out the routines of life without inhibition. Result: The optimal combination of medical parameters that prevents occurrence of ailments and gives strength to fight if an ailment occurs, is conceptually beyond the ‘normal’ levels that we use in everyday clinical practice and can be considered to indicate positive health. This is illustrated with the help of several examples after dividing the concept of positive health into five domains on the pattern of quality-of-life assessment. We plead that more efforts be made to identify the positive parameters of health, and their optimal levels that measure positive health be delineated

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion