Health issues — AQA GCSE Biology
Test yourself on Health issues with AQA GCSE practice questions.
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Health issues explained
Health is a complete state of physical and mental well-being, not simply the absence of disease or infirmity.
Read the full explanation
Physical well-being includes having a healthy body that functions properly, free from illness and injury. Mental well-being includes feeling positive about oneself, being able to cope with normal stresses, and having good emotional and social functioning. For example, a person with a broken leg has physical ill health, while someone experiencing depression has mental ill health. Both aspects are equally important and can influence each other. A person may have no diagnosed disease but still feel unwell mentally, or may have a physical condition but maintain good mental well-being. This holistic definition is used by the World Health Organization and is central to understanding health issues.
Your focus
- State the definition of health.
- Describe what is meant by physical and mental well-being.
- Explain why health is not just the absence of disease.
Health issues exam tips
Marking Points
- Health is defined as a state of physical and mental well-being.
- Physical well-being relates to the body's functioning and absence of disease or injury.
- Mental well-being relates to emotional and psychological state, including ability to cope with stress.
- Health is not just the absence of disease; a person can have a disease but still have good mental well-being, or vice versa.
- Both physical and mental aspects are equally important and can affect each other.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Learn the exact definition: 'Health is the state of physical and mental well-being.'
- 💡Give examples to show you understand both physical and mental aspects.
- 💡Avoid saying health is just about being free from disease; always mention mental well-being.
Common Mistakes
- Defining health as only physical fitness; correction: health includes mental well-being as well.
- Thinking that if you are not ill, you are healthy; correction: health also requires mental well-being, so you could be physically well but mentally unwell.
- Confusing mental well-being with mental illness; correction: mental well-being is a positive state, while mental illness is a diagnosed condition.