Introduction to Health & Illness PDF

Introduction to Health & Illness Ms. Jalpa Prajapati Assistant Professor MTIN, CHARUSAT  Health is an integral part of our life and it is directly linked to survival. Survival of the fittest is a rule of nature. The quality...

Introduction to Health & Illness Ms. Jalpa Prajapati Assistant Professor MTIN, CHARUSAT  Health is an integral part of our life and it is directly linked to survival. Survival of the fittest is a rule of nature. The quality of life depends upon the Health. So that every person has the right to achieve good health. These rights include access to health care, medical awareness, better standard of living, clean & sanitary water, food grain etc. Definition WHO set a standard of the foundation for rights to health. According to WHO "Health is a state where a person has achieved physical, mental & social well being and the absence of disease or infirmity is not only the thing which defines health". Right to health is a universal right and also a fundamental right equal for everyone without any discrimination. Health Concept An understanding of health is the basis of all health care. Health is not perceived the same way by the all members of a community including various professional groups giving raise to confusion about the Concepts of health; 1. Biomedical Concept Health has been viewed as an “absence of disease”, and if one was free from disease the person was considered healthy. 2. Ecological Concept: Ecologists viewed health as a dynamic equilibrium between man and his environment. Man adjusted with his environment healthy. Disease maladjustment of the human organism to the environment. 3. Psychosocial Concept: Advancement in social science showed that health is not only a biomedical phenomena, it is also influenced by other social, psychological, cultural, economic and political factors of the people concerned. When measuring health we have to consider the above factors. Thus health is both a biological and a social phenomenon. 4. Holistic Concept: Holistic model is a combination of all the above models. This Concept considered physical, psychological, social, economic, political and environmental factors and its influence on health. Person is considered as a whole. It focuses on the promotion and protection of health Dimensions Of Health Health is multidimensional, WHO definition envisages three (3) specific dimensions, however there are many more dimensions: 1. Physical (Perfect functioning of the body). It implies perfect functioning of the body -every cell and every organ is functioning at optimum capacity and in perfect harmony with the rest of the body. - Physical health can be evaluated by self assessment, clinical examination, nutrition assessment, lab investigations etc. -at community level, health can be assessed by indicators such as death rate, infant mortality rate and expectation of life 2. Mental dimension - It is the state of balance between the individual and the surrounding world, a state of harmony between oneself and others , coexistence between realities of the self and that of other people and that of environment. - Characteristics of a mentally healthy person… -Free from internal conflicts -well adjusted -he searches for identity -Strong self esteem -he knows himself, his needs, problems etc. -Good self control -face the problems courage-sly and solve them intelligently 3. Social dimension - Social well being implies harmony and integration within the individual and other member of the society and between individuals and the world in which they live. -Quaintly and quality of individuals interpersonal ties and the extent of involvement within the community -Social dimension include the level of social skill one possesses, social functioning and ability to see oneself as a member of large society -Health habits are influenced by persons economic level, life style, social status etc 4.Spiritual dimension - It refers to that part of individual which reaches out and strives for meaning and purpose in life -It include principles and ethics, purpose in life, commitment to some higher being etc. -spiritual beliefs and values are important components of a persons health and illness eg. Roman catholic requires baptism for both live birth and still born babies 5. Emotional dimension - Emotional health refers to feeling -long term stress affects body systems and anxiety affects health habits Eg. Student always have diarrhea before examination Vocational dimension -part of human existence -when the work is fully adapted, it promote physical and mental health  6. Environmental dimension - Housing, sanitation, climate, pollution etc affects health - Increase risk of skin cancers in people who live in sunny areas - increase risk of asthma in polluted areas 7. Others -philosophical dimension -cultural dimension -socio economic dimension -educational dimension -nutritional dimension -curative dimension -preventive dimension Factors Influencing health:  Biological factors: Pathogenic microorganisms, Biological hereditary factors, Other factors such as age, sex, growth and development Environmental factors: Natural factors such as air, water, soil pollution, radiation and noise, Social factors such as income, education, political & economic system in the society, social & cultural system and health care services. Lifestyle factors: Good & bad habits, Eating habits, Culture, Beliefs. Psychosocial factors: Psychological functions depends upon emotions and feelings, Such as fear, stress, anxiety, tension can lead to hypertension & heart attack and depression can lead to suicide. Poverty as a factor affecting to health: Weak economical status not able to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Healthy lifestyle means healthy food, clean water, literacy, routine medical check-up etc., Poverty increases the risk of insufficient, unhealthy & non hygienic foods caused disability, weak stamina and lower growth, Lack of knowledge & awareness of diseases and its treatments affecting the health directly. Use of pesticides is also a factor affecting health: Pesticides expose a great risk to human health. It is a chemical substance use in agriculture to save plants from insects and other pets, Acute effects means immediately effects to health such as nosia, dysiness, daria, blindness, also extend to death if intake in huge ILLNESS Illness Illness is any disease or any deviation in normal functioning of body consider as illness. When a person's physical, emotional, intellectual, social development or spiritual functioning is compromised, this deviation from a healthy normal state is called illness. Illness creates stress that in turn harms individuals. Irritation, anger, denial, hopelessness, and fear are behavioral and emotional changes an individual experiences in the phases of illness Causes and risk factors for developing Illness A variety of factors influence a person's health and well-being. Behavioral risk factors relate primarily to "actions" the individual takes. It can be modified or eliminated by changing one's lifestyle or behavior. Examples of behavioral risk factors include a lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption. Physiological risk factors are associated with a person's body or biology. These may be influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and other factors. Examples include being overweight and having high blood cholesterol or high blood pressure. Demographic risk factors relate to the overall population, such as age, gender, and population subgroups. Environmental risk factors are external, and include physical, chemical, biological, or occupational factors impacting someone's health. Examples include exposure to pollutants like heavy metals and asbestos fibers. Genetic risk factors are determined by a person's genes. Some illnesses, like cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy, are solely caused by a person's "genetic makeup." Other diseases, including asthma or diabetes, result from the interaction of a person's genes and environmental factors.