Biology · Human Health and Diseases · NEET
No. This is the most common NEET trap. NCERT clearly says health does NOT simply mean 'absence of disease' or 'physical fitness'. Health is a state of complete physical, mental AND social well-being. So a person can be free of any disease but still not be fully healthy if their mental or social well-being is poor.
Health is defined as 'a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.' Remember all three words: physical, mental, social. NEET options often drop one word (like leaving out 'social') to make a wrong choice. Pick the option that has all three.
Health = complete physical, mental and social well-being. Disease = when the functioning of one or more organs or systems of the body is adversely (badly) affected, shown by various signs and symptoms. In short, health is well-being; disease is disturbed body function that you can see through signs and symptoms.
NCERT groups them together, but simply: symptoms are what the patient FEELS (like pain, tiredness), and signs are what a doctor can OBSERVE or measure (like fever, swelling). When organs stop working properly, these signs and symptoms appear, and we say the person has a disease.
NCERT lists three: (i) genetic disorders (defects present from birth or inherited from parents), (ii) infections (caused by pathogens), and (iii) lifestyle including food, water, rest, exercise and habits. Balanced diet, personal hygiene, regular exercise and yoga help maintain good health.
Biology showed that the mind influences the immune system through the neural (nervous) system and the endocrine (hormone) system, and the immune system maintains our health. So a poor mental state can lower immunity and affect health. This is why 'mental well-being' is part of the definition of health.
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
The idea that health is complete physical, mental and social well-being matches the World Health Organization (WHO) view, and this is exactly how NCERT states it. For NEET, focus on the NCERT wording: 'a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.'
No. Physical fitness is only one part. NCERT specifically says health does not simply mean physical fitness. A fit person can still be unhealthy if their mental or social well-being is poor.
A disease is recognised when one or more organs or systems of the body work poorly, shown by various signs and symptoms. Diseases are broadly grouped into infectious and non-infectious types.
NCERT notes healthy people are more efficient at work, which increases productivity and brings economic prosperity. Good health also increases longevity and reduces infant and maternal mortality.
By taking a balanced diet, keeping personal hygiene, doing regular exercise and yoga, getting vaccination against infectious diseases, proper waste disposal, control of vectors, and keeping food and water clean.
