Health, Wellness, and Disease PDF

# Health, Wellness, and Disease ## Introduction Health, wellness, and well-being have many definitions and interpretations. Nurses should be familiar with the most common aspects of the concepts and consider how they may be individualized with specific clients. ## Definitions ### Health It is a...

# Health, Wellness, and Disease ## Introduction Health, wellness, and well-being have many definitions and interpretations. Nurses should be familiar with the most common aspects of the concepts and consider how they may be individualized with specific clients. ## Definitions ### Health It is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO). ### Wellness Wellness is a dynamic process that is ever changing. The well person usually has some degree of illness and the ill person usually has some degree of wellness. Wellness further describes health status. It allows health to be placed on a continuum from one's optimal level (-wellness|) to a maladaptive state. ## Dimensions of Wellness 1. **Physical**: The ability to carry out daily tasks, achieve fitness (e.g., pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal), maintain adequate nutrition and proper body fat, avoid abusing drugs and alcohol or using tobacco products, and generally to practice positive lifestyle habits. 2. **Social**: The ability to interact successfully with people and within the environment. 3. **Emotional**: The ability to manage stress and to express emotions appropriately. Emotional wellness involves the ability to recognize, accept, and express feelings. 4. **Intellectual**: The ability to learn and use information effectively for personal, family, and career development. 5. **Spiritual**: The belief in some force (nature, science, religion, or a higher power) that serves to unite human beings and provide meaning and purpose of life. 6. **Occupational**: The ability to achieve a balance between work and leisure time. A person's beliefs about education, employment, and home influence personal satisfaction and relationships with others. 7. **Environmental**: The ability to promote health measures that improve the standard of living and quality of life in the community. ## Illness and Disease Illness is a highly personal state in which the person's physical, emotional, intellectual, social, developmental, or spiritual functioning is thought to be diminished. Illness is usually associated with disease but may occur independently of it. Illness is a highly personal state in which the person feels unhealthy or ill. Disease can be described as an alteration in body functions resulting in a reduction of capacities or shortening of the normal life span. The causation of a disease is called its etiology. ## Risk Factors of Disease & Illness: 1. Genetic and physiological factors 2. Age 3. Environment 4. Lifestyle Goal of risk factors of disease & illness: modify or eliminate ## Types of Illness | Type | Description | | --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Acute | Develops quickly, is intense or severe -Respond to therapy -Potentially life threatening- Short duration often less than 1 month) -Abrupt onset| | Chronic | That is persistent or otherwise long lasting in its effects -Potentially life threatening -Usually > 6 months -Similar to disability | ## Impact of Illness ### On the Client - Behavioral and emotional changes. - Loss of autonomy. - Self-concept and body image changes. - Lifestyle changes. ### On the Family - Depends on: - Member of the family who is ill - Seriousness and length of the illness. - Cultural and social customs the family follows. #### Family Changes - Role changes - Task reassignments - Increased demands on time - Anxiety about outcomes - Conflict about unaccustomed responsibilities. - Financial problems. - Loneliness as a result of separation and pending loss. - Change in social customs. ## There are Several Approaches to Health Maintenance: - Health promotion. - Health protection. - Disease prevention. ### Health Promotion: The science and art of helping people change their lifestyle to move toward a state of optimal health. ### Health Protection Activities: - Prevent accidents. - Occupational safety & health. - Ensuring the safety of food & drugs. - Environmental strategies. ### Disease Prevention Activities: - Continuum of Disease. - Prevent the Disease. - Limit the Course of the Disease. ## Levels of Prevention: - Primary - Secondary - Tertiary ### 1. Primary Prevention - Precedes disease or dysfunction. - Wellness activities. - Focus on maintaining or improving general health. ### 2. Secondary Prevention - Directed at early diagnosis and prompt intervention. - Reducing severity and enabling client to return to normal level of health. ### 3. Tertiary Prevention - Minimizing effect of long-term disease or disability. - Aimed at preventing complications and deterioration. - Directed at rehabilitation.