Public health is the scientific discipline that encourages healthy habits, identifies and controls disease at a population level and promotes quality of life. It is not to be confused with healthcare or insurance. While healthcare focuses on treating sick individuals, public health tackles problems like disease outbreaks and environmental threats at the community, state and global levels.
While many people associate public health with things like cleaning hands, eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep, it actually encompasses much more. It is the entire field of work that focuses on improving lives at a large scale, from ensuring clean water and safe food to reducing automobile accidents and workplace injuries.
Throughout history, there have been many different approaches to public health. Some emphasized the role of the state and provided services such as sewer systems, public education and the control of infectious diseases through vaccination and quarantine. Other approaches focused more on societal changes that would help people live longer, healthier lives.
Regardless of what approach to public health is taken, the ultimate goal is to create conditions where people can be as healthy as possible. This can be achieved by reducing or eliminating health disparities, protecting communities and the environment, improving access to essential services such as water and sanitation, and addressing issues such as air and water pollution. As the world faces increasingly complex and dangerous challenges, public health professionals are needed more than ever.