Health Sciences are the group of disciplines of applied science dealing with human and animal health. There are two parts to Health Sciences: the study and research knowledge of health and the application of that knowledge to improve health, prevent and cure diseases, and understand how humans and animals function. Research builds primarily on the basic sciences of biology, chemistry, and physics as well as a variety of multidisciplinary fields (for example medical sociology). Other fields which made an exceptionally significant contribution to the health sciences include biochemistry, biotechnology, engineering, epidemiology, genetics, nursing, pharmacology, pharmacy, public health, psychology ,physical therapy, and medicine. The health sciences industry, a multi-billion dollar buiness, is a subset of the life sciences, medical care, and diagnosis industries. Applied science is the exact science of applying knowledge from one or more natural scientific fields to practical problems. ... Research is a human activity based on intellectual investigation and aimed at discovering, interpreting, and revising human knowledge on different aspects of the world. ... The term disease refers to an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs function. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Physics (Greek: (phúsis), nature and (phusiké), knowledge of nature) is the science concerned with the fundamental laws of the universe. ... Medical sociology is the study of individual and group behaviors with respect to health and illness. ... Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes and transformations in living organisms. ... This article is 150 kilobytes or more in size. ... Engineering is the design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ... Epidemiology is the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine. ... For a non-technical introduction to the topic, please see Introduction to genetics. ... Nursing is a profession focused on assisting individuals, families, and communities in attaining, re-attaining, and maintaining optimal health and functioning. ... Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmacon (φάρμακον) meaning drug, and logos (λόγος) meaning science) is the study of how substances interact with living organisms to produce a change in function. ... For other uses, see Pharmacy (disambiguation). ... Public health is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. ... Psychology is an academic or applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes such as perception, cognition, emotion, personality, behavior, and interpersonal relationships. ... Physical therapy (or physiotherapy[1]) is the provision of services to people and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. ... medicines, see medication and pharmacology. ...

Historical overview

The foundations for the Health Sciences fields are as old as the human race. Humans have always been in need of solutions to address illness, injury, and various health related issues such as childbirth. With modern technology and the backing of the pure sciences, the scientific accuracy of these fields has greatly improved. Nevertheless, many cultures have used and continue to use various herbs and other culturally specific solutions to help solve health problems that may or may not be backed by any scientific support.

Acquisition of health-related knowledge

See Medical research. Medical research (or experimental medicine) is basic research and applied research conducted to aid the body of knowledge in the field of medicine. ...

Application of health-related knowledge

Health deliveries

There are a large number of health professions. The terms medicine or biomedicine, and medical doctor or M.D. refer to dominant conventional practices in the West. This article or section may contain external links added only to promote a website, product, or service – otherwise known as spam. ... medicines, see medication and pharmacology. ... See drugs, medication, and pharmacology for substances that treat patients. ...

There are a wide range of traditional areas of health science. The most common areas are: medicine, nursing, midwifery, and various forms of therapy to supplement the healing process and restore proper activity (e.g. Dietetics, recreational, physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory). Health science includes both the study and application of preventing and curing human diseases and disorders. Medical doctors include physicians and surgeons. There are many different branches of medicine; the other health care professions also have specialties or focus on specific populations or settings of care. Public health studies the effect of environmental factors such as available health care resources on the health of the general population, often focusing on particular populations, such as mothers and children. Dietitians educate people about proper nutrition, particularly specific dietary needs of populations such as people with diabetes, breastfeeding women, and people with celiac disease. Other less common medical areas include first aid and triage. medicines, see medication and pharmacology. ... Nursing is a profession focused on assisting individuals, families, and communities in attaining, re-attaining, and maintaining optimal health and functioning. ... // Midwifery is the term traditionally used to describe the art of assisting a woman through childbirth. ... Dietitians are experts in food and nutrition. ... Play Therapy is defined by the Association for Play Therapy as the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development. ... Physical therapy (or physiotherapy[1]) is the provision of services to people and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. ... Occupational therapy (OT) is rehabilitation of mentally and physically disabled persons by teaching them a skill or providing them with creative activity. ... It has been suggested that Speech-Language Pathology, Speech pathology, Phoniatrics be merged into this article or section. ... Respiratory therapy is categorized as an allied health profession in the United States and Canada. ... The Doctor by Samuel Luke Fildes This article is about the term physician, one type of doctor; for other uses of the word doctor see Doctor. ... A cardiothoracic surgeon performs a mitral valve replacement at the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. ... Public health is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. ... Dietitians are experts in food and nutrition. ... The updated USDA food pyramid, published in 2005, is a general nutrition guide for recommended food consumption. ... This article is about the disease that features high blood sugar. ... Breastfeeding an infant Symbol for breastfeeding (Matt Daigle, Mothering magazine contest winner 2006) Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with milk from a womans breasts. ... Coeliac disease (also termed non-tropical sprue, celiac disease and gluten intolerance) is an autoimmune disease characterised by chronic inflammation of the proximal portion of the small intestine caused by exposure to certain dietary gluten proteins. ... First aid is a series of simple, life-saving medical techniques that a non-doctor or layman can be trained to perform. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

Dental health has grown in importance in recent decades making dentistry a major field of health sciences. Counselling, hospice care, home care, nutrition, medical social work, alternative medicine, pharmacology, and toxicology are all considered part of health science. A Dentist and Dental Assistant perform surgery on a patient. ... // Psychotherapy is a range of techniques based on dialogue, communication and behavior change and which are designed to improve the mental health of a client or patient, or to improve group relationships (such as in a family). ... Palliative care is any form of medical care or treatment that concentrates on reducing the severity of the symptoms of a disease or slows its progress rather than providing a cure. ... Home care, also known as domiciliary care, is health care provided in the patients home by healthcare professionals (often referred to as home health care or formal care; in the United States, it is known as skilled care) or by family and friends (also known as caregivers, primary caregiver... The updated USDA food pyramid, published in 2005, is a general nutrition guide for recommended food consumption. ... Medical Social Work is a sub-discipline of social work. ... Alternative medicine describes practices used in place of conventional medical treatments. ... Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmacon (φάρμακον) meaning drug, and logos (λόγος) meaning science) is the study of how substances interact with living organisms to produce a change in function. ... Toxicology (from the Greek words toxicos and logos [1]) is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms [2]. It is the study of symptoms, mechanisms, treatments and detection of poisoning, especially the poisoning of people. ...

Veterinary medicine is the health science dedicated exclusively to the care of animals. Veterinary medicine is involved in preventing and curing animal diseases and disorders, inspecting animal originated food (like milk and meat) and animal husbandry. Veterinary medicine is the application of medical, diagnostic, and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife, and production animals. ...

Contemporary themes

Because health science deals with human life, issues of medical ethics, an important area of ethics, arise frequently. Medical ethics includes questions on topics such as a patient's right to privacy. Euthanasia, abortion, human cloning, stem cell research and genetic engineering are especially controversial issues directly related to health science. Medical ethics is the study of moral values as they apply to medicine. ... Ethics (from the Ancient Greek ēthikos, the adjective of ēthos custom, habit), a major branch of philosophy, including genetics is the study of values and customs of a person or group. ... Euthanasia (from Greek: ευθανασία -ευ, eu, good, θάνατος, thanatos, death) is the practice of terminating the life of a person or animal in a presumably painless or minimally painful way. ... Human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of an existing, or previously existing, human being or clone tissue from that individual. ... Mouse embryonic stem cells. ... An iconic image of genetic engineering; this autoluminograph from 1986 of a glowing transgenic tobacco plant bearing the luciferase gene, illustrating the possibilities of genetic engineering. ...

Health practices

Conventional Western practices

• Allopathic medicine
• Athletic training
• Dentistry
• Dietetics
• Epidemiology
• Genetic counseling
• Medical physics
• Medicine
• Medical technology
• Nursing
• Nutrition
• Occupational therapy
• Optometry
• Osteopathic medicine (Note: Osteopathy, as practiced in most countries other than the USA, is listed under complementary and alternative practices below)
• Pharmacology
• Physical therapy (physiotherapy)
• Psychology, including [(Animal, Behavioural, Clinical, Health, Medical, Neuropsychology and others)]
• Psychoanalysis
• Psychotherapy, including Cognitive therapy
• Public health
• Physical education
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Surgery, including anaesthesiology
• Veterinary medicine

The term allopathic medicine is used by adherents of alternative medicine to refer to any form of mainstream medicine. ... Athletic Training is an allied health care profession recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) that specializes in the prevention, evaluation, treatment, management and rehabilitation of athletic related injuries and illnesses. ... A Dentist and Dental Assistant perform surgery on a patient. ... Dietitians are experts in food and nutrition. ... Epidemiology is the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine. ... Genetic counseling is the process by which patients or relatives, at risk of an inherited disorder, are advised of the consequences and nature of the disorder, the probability of developing or transmitting it, and the options open to them in management and family planning in order to prevent, avoid or... Medical physics is a branch of applied physics concerning the application of physics to medicine. ... medicines, see medication and pharmacology. ... Category: Possible copyright violations ... Nursing is a profession focused on assisting individuals, families, and communities in attaining, re-attaining, and maintaining optimal health and functioning. ... The updated USDA food pyramid, published in 2005, is a general nutrition guide for recommended food consumption. ... Occupational therapy (OT) is rehabilitation of mentally and physically disabled persons by teaching them a skill or providing them with creative activity. ... Optometry (Greek: optos meaning seen or visible and metria meaning measurement) is the health care profession concerned with examination, diagnosis, and treatment of the eyes and related structures and with determination and correction of vision problems using lenses and other optical aids [1]. An optical refractor (also called a phoropter... Osteopathic medicine (formerly known as osteopathy) is [1] Outside the United States, osteopathic medicine is often used interchangeably with osteopathy. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or D.O.s, apply the philosophy of treating the whole person (a holistic approach) to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness, disease and injury... Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmacon (φάρμακον) meaning drug, and logos (λόγος) meaning science) is the study of how substances interact with living organisms to produce a change in function. ... Physical therapy (or physiotherapy[1]) is the provision of services to people and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. ... Psychology is an academic or applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes such as perception, cognition, emotion, personality, behavior, and interpersonal relationships. ... Psychoanalysis is a family of psychological theories and methods based on the work of Sigmund Freud. ... // Psychotherapy is a range of techniques based on dialogue, communication and behavior change and which are designed to improve the mental health of a client or patient, or to improve group relationships (such as in a family). ... Cognitive therapy or cognitive behaviour therapy is a kind of psychotherapy used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, and other forms of mental disorder. ... Public health is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. ... Physical instruction at the U.S. Naval Training Station, Newport, Rhode Island, 1917 Physical education (PE) is the interdisciplinary study of all areas of science relating to the transmission of physical knowledge and skills to an individual or a group, the application of these skills, and their results. ... // Scope of Practice The practice of speech-language pathology includes prevention, diagnosis, habilitation, and rehabilitation of communication, swallowing, or other upper aerodigestive disorders; elective modification of communication behaviors; and enhancement of communication. ... A cardiothoracic surgeon performs a mitral valve replacement at the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. ... Anesthesia (AE), also anaesthesia (BE), is the process of blocking the perception of pain and other sensations. ... Veterinary medicine is the application of medical, diagnostic, and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife, and production animals. ...

Complementary and alternative medicine

• Alexander Technique
• Chiropractic
• Dorn method
• Herbalism
• Holistic health
• Homeopathy
• Hypnosis
• Massage therapy
• Natural medicine
• Naturopathic medicine
• Orthomolecular medicine
• Osteopathy (Note: Osteopathic medicine as practiced in the USA is listed under traditional western practices above)

The Alexander Technique is a form of educational bodywork (alternative medicine) with the intention of teaching practitioners to recognize and overcome habitual limitations in their posture and movement. ... Chiropractic is a complementary and alternative health care profession with the purpose of diagnosing and treating mechanical disorders of the spine and musculoskeletal system with the intention of affecting the nervous system and improving health. ... The Dorn method is a form of manual, holistic alternative therapy used to correct misalignments in the spinal column and other joints. ... Dioscorides’ Materia Medica, c. ... Holistic health is a medical philosophy of well-being that considers the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of life as closely interconnected and balanced. ... It has been suggested that Veterinary homeopathy be merged into this article or section. ... Professor Charcot was well-known for showing, during his lessons at the Salpêtrière hospital, hysterical woman patients – here, his favorite patient, Blanche (Marie) Wittman, supported by Joseph Babiński. ... In alternative medicine, body work or massage therapy refers to any treatment which involves some form of touching or physical manipulation. ... Natural medicine is the practice of using any form of medicine that is in its natural form. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Orthomolecular medicine and optimum nutrition are controversial medical and health approaches[1] that posit that many diseases and abnormalities result from various chemical imbalances or deficiencies and can be prevented, treated, or sometimes cured by achieving optimal levels of naturally occurring chemical substances, such as vitamins, dietary minerals, enzymes, antioxidants... Osteopathy is a (Oxford English Dictionary). ... Osteopathic medicine (formerly known as osteopathy) is [1] Outside the United States, osteopathic medicine is often used interchangeably with osteopathy. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or D.O.s, apply the philosophy of treating the whole person (a holistic approach) to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness, disease and injury...

Spiritually-based healing

• Christian Science
• Faith healing
• Johrei
• Maharishi Vedic Medicine
• Reiki
• Shamanism

Christian Science is a religious teaching regarding the efficacy of spiritual healing according to the interpretation of the Bible by Mary Baker Eddy, in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (First published in 1875). ... Faith healer redirects here. ... Johrei (Jo: to purify; ray: spirit) manifests through the focusing of Divine Light, through the Johrei channel and to the Johrei recipient. ... Maharishi Vedic Medicine (also known as Maharishis Consciousness-Based Health Care or Maharishi Ayurveda) was founded in the mid 1980s by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, creator of the Transcendental Meditation system. ... Reiki is performed through a technique similar to the laying on of hands. ... A shaman doctor of Kyzyl. ...

Traditional medicine and folk medicine

• Ayurveda
• Folk medicine
• Medical herbalism
• Native American traditional healing
• Shamanism
• Traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture
• Traditional Korean medicine

Shirodhara, one of the techniques of Ayurveda Ayurveda (Devanagari: ) or Ayurvedic medicine is a practice in use primarily in the Indian subcontinent, which advocates argue assists with health and healing. ... A traditional healer in Côte dIvoire Folk medicine refers collectively to procedures traditionally used for treatment of illness and injury, aid to childbirth, and maintenance of wellness. ... Medical herbalism is a term that is used to the practice of using plants as medicinal remedies. ... A shaman doctor of Kyzyl. ... Traditional Chinese medicine shop in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. ... Acupuncture chart from Hua Shou (fl. ... Traditional Korean medicine (Hangul: 한의학, Hanja: 韓醫學) developed with the influence of Chinese medical techniques and procedures. ...

Health practices of historical interest

• Blood letting
• Heroic medicine
• Magnet therapy
• Medieval medicine
• Patent medicine
• Phrenology
• Trepanation

Bloodletting (or blood-letting, in modern medicine referred to as phlebotomy) was a popular medical practice from antiquity up to the late 19th century, involving the withdrawal of often considerable quantities of blood from a patient in the belief that this would cure or prevent illness and disease. ... Heroic medicine is a term for aggressive medical practices or methods of treatment, and usually refers to those which were later superseded by scientific advances. ... Magnet therapy, or magnetic therapy, or magnotherapy is an alternative medicine claiming that certain medical disorders can be effectively treated by exposure to magnetic fields. ... Astrology played an important part in Medieval medicine; most educated physicians were trained in at least the basics of astrology to use in their practice. ... Patent medicine is the term given to various medical compounds sold under a variety of names and labels, though they were for the most part actually trademarked medicines, not patented. ... A 19th century Phrenology chart. ... 18th century French illustration of trepanation Trepanation (also known trepanning, trephination, trephining or burr hole) is a form of surgery in which a hole is drilled or scraped into the skull, thus exposing the dura mater in order to treat health problems related to intracranial diseases, though in the modern...

See also

Main list: List of basic health science topics

• Biomedical research
• Biomedical engineering
• Biomedical technology
• Biomedical informatics
• Evidence-based medicine
• Health economics
• History of medicine
• Medical informatics
• Medical ethics
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Preventive medicine
• Publicly-funded health care
• Public health

Basic topics in health science include: // Main article: Health science hi Main article: History of health science health - disease - doctor - physician - surgeon - surgery - healing - healer - witch-doctor - hospital - nurse - medication - operation - Public Health - physical examination - medical history - auscultation - stethoscope - percussion - medical imaging - X-ray - medical ultrasonography - blood work - Medical specialities... Biomedical Research involves thorough investigation of any matter related to the domain of living or biological Systems. ... The AbioCor artificial heart, an example of a biomedical engineering application of mechanical engineering with biocompatible materials for Cardiothoracic Surgery using an artificial organ. ... Biomedical technology involves the application of engineering and technology principles to the domain of living or biological systems. ... Biomedical informatics is a discipline related to bioinformatics and has roots in medical informatics or healthcare informatics. ... Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is an attempt to more uniformly apply the standards of evidence gained from the scientific method, to certain aspects of medical practice. ... Health economics is a branch of economics concerned with issues related to scarcity in the allocation of health and health care. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Electronic patient chart of a HIS Medical Informatics is the name given to the discipline that exists at the intersection of information technology and medicine. ... Medical ethics is the study of moral values as they apply to medicine. ... This is a list of pharmaceutical and biotech companies that are major manufacturers on global or national markets : Abbott Laboratories Able Laboratories Akzo Nobel Allergan Almirall Prodesfarma Alphapharm Altana (previously Byk Gulden) ALZA, part of Johnson & Johnson Amgen AstraZeneca, formed from the merger of Astra AB and Zeneca Group PLC... A 1930 Soviet poster propagating breast care. ... Publicly-funded health care is a health care system that is financed entirely or in majority part by citizens tax payments instead of through private payments made to insurance companies or directly to health care providers (health insurance premiums, copayments or deductibles)[citation needed]. // Publicly-funded health care systems are... Public health is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. ...

External links and references

• Links to Health Professions Websites
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
• The US National Library of Medicine