I wish to coin a new term "Health Quotient." It will denote the relative well being and health of a person as compared to the health of a normal person of that particular age. As IQ is of relevance in younger age group , this term HQ will be of particular value in people of older age groups.
Assessment of health quotient includes intelligence, memory, locomotor strength & physical well being, any co-mobidity or disability, activity of daily living, physical and emotional independence, interest & motivation. For example a 40 year person is expected to have normal locomotor activity, normal hearing and a good respiratory function but a diseased person may have poor cardiac and respiratory reserve due to chronic smoking, alcoholism, sedentary life style. So, the health quotient may a good marker of socio-economic productivity of a person.
This quotient is of immense value in present time because of increased life expectancy and better health of people even after the retirement age. The age old norms of retirement age are becoming irrelevant because people are healthy and eager to continue wor even after fficial retirement age. In some professions, in fact, people gain maturity and wisdom with time. Many physicians, entrepreneuers, politicians, businessmen are well respected and active when they surpass the age of retirement.
So, there should be an objective criteria to evaluate the health quotient of a person and he or she should be asked to continue active contribution to the society.
Assessment of health quotient includes intelligence, memory, locomotor strength & physical well being, any co-mobidity or disability, activity of daily living, physical and emotional independence, interest & motivation. For example a 40 year person is expected to have normal locomotor activity, normal hearing and a good respiratory function but a diseased person may have poor cardiac and respiratory reserve due to chronic smoking, alcoholism, sedentary life style. So, the health quotient may a good marker of socio-economic productivity of a person.
This quotient is of immense value in present time because of increased life expectancy and better health of people even after the retirement age. The age old norms of retirement age are becoming irrelevant because people are healthy and eager to continue wor even after fficial retirement age. In some professions, in fact, people gain maturity and wisdom with time. Many physicians, entrepreneuers, politicians, businessmen are well respected and active when they surpass the age of retirement.
So, there should be an objective criteria to evaluate the health quotient of a person and he or she should be asked to continue active contribution to the society.
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