There is a saying that health is wealth. Furthermore, it is also a part of science that deals with human and animal health.
Our health is undoubtedly one of the most important features that we need to maintain and develop. It serves as a basis for a person’s physical and mental condition. We can say that a healthy person does not have any disease or illness, which would significantly affect his or her lifestyle.
Because of the incredible importance of health, several scientists from thousands of years, continue to develop and improve ways for humans to maintain a healthy body. Furthermore, scientists also devised various methods to treat diseases and other medical conditions, which is one of the vital industries in our modern world.
Interestingly, all of these practices are all categorized under a field of study called medical and health sciences. Throughout the years, the development of this branch of science is evident in our world today. We can also see in our history books the various people who contributed to its advancement.
In this article, we are going to look into the incredible history of medical and health sciences. Furthermore, what are the other branches of study related to it?
What is Medical and Health Sciences?
As mentioned earlier, medical and health sciences is a field of study devoted to the understanding and application of health. It is a broad branch of science that deals with a wide range of topics related to human health. However, despite the diversity of this field, it only focuses on a single topic – which is our health.
Moreover, there are many other branches categorized under medical and health sciences, which includes:
- Anatomy –is one of the fundamental branches of medical and health sciences. It aims to gain a deeper understanding of an organism’s structure, as well as its parts.
- Cardiology –is a medical study of the heart. It focuses on the various disorders and conditions related to the heart, and it also builds knowledge on the parts of the circulatory system. The word cardiology came from the Greek word ‘cardia,’ which means heart, and ‘logy,’ which means – ‘the study of.’
- Genetics – is a branch of science devoted to the study of heredity and inherited traits.
- Immunology – from the name itself, it is the branch of science, which focuses on the study of the body’s immune system.
- Medicine –we probably all know this branch of science since it serves a crucial role in the overall health of humans, as well as animals, in our modern world. It is a branch of science devoted to diagnosing and treating disease and damage to the body.
- Nutrition – is the field of science that focuses on the study of food and nourishment.
What is the origin of the medical and health sciences?
Now that we already have a brief understanding of medical and health sciences let us now look into its history. It has been a point of interest to many scientists over the years, which resulted in countless studies and books published related to it. This study originated from different parts of the globe for thousands of years.
We can trace back the origin of medical and health sciences to thousands of years during prehistoric times. During this period, people used plants for medicinal purposes, also known as herbalism. This early practice of medicine became a foundation for the next generations. However, despite the various accounts of prehistoric medicine, there were no concrete scientific explanations related to human health.
Thousands of years later came in the ancient civilizations, wherein medicine was on track in its development. During this period, people had a clearer knowledge of how to treat diseases and illnesses. However, ancient people, mainly doctors, don’t have a definite distinction between magic and rational science. The ancient study of medicine and health still doesn’t have a clear scientific basis, in which they often relate it to supernatural beliefs.
A breakthrough in the advancement of medicine took place during the medieval Islamic world. This period left a significant impact on the scientific study of medicine and health since it was when the Islamic civilization made countless contributions to various topics related to medicinal sciences. This period was known to be the start of an extensive study of the field of medicine, which resulted in the different branches of science, such as anatomy, ophthalmology, pharmacology, pharmacy, physiology, and surgery.
For centuries, the study of medicine continues to develop until it reached the 19th century. This period marks the start of modern medicine, wherein the advancement of its study shifted into an incredibly fast pace. During this time, various techniques, equipment, cures, and approaches were developed by great scientists and physicians. The rapid growth of understanding in the field of medicine led to several improvements to various branches of science.