Health, Illnesses and Preventions
- The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as being a state of mental, social and physical wellbeing and not a state of absence of diseases. The definition of health by the WHO broadens the perspective that people had of being healthy as it not only lacking any disease affecting your body but it is also having a social welfare mental and physical health. It is important to note that an individual’s health depends on the environment that he or she lives and works in.
- Health is the ability to adapt and self-manage which includes the ability of people adapting to their situations as key to health (Huber et al., 2011). This definition of health is not rigid as the perspective of health is subjective and different people can define health depending on their needs.
- Psychological or mental well-being contributes to the health of a person. Using the PERMA model Seligman (2011) states that positive emotions, engagement. Relationship, meaning and accomplishment contribute to a flourishing metal wellbeing which is directly connected to an individual’s healthy state. In this explanation Seligman says that being healthy depends on an individual’s mental state.
Illness is a term that has a broad meaning which is used to define the poor state of body, mind, and spiritual conditions which makes someone feel unwell or sick. Different people define illness differently as everyone has a different perspective of what it is. Illness might be caused by microorganisms, exposure to toxins and chemicals.
- Illness is a condition that is characterized by deviation from a normal health state which manifests itself through physical and psychological symptoms (Kozier).
- Illness is a state in which an individual’s intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and physical functioning is impaired or diminished compared to his or her previous experience (Potter & Perry). The nature of illness is that it affects the physical and metabolic functioning of an individual.
Disease prevention programs center on keeping people healthy by prevention. The program is used to promote health among the people living in a community or a society by empowering individuals to choose healthy habits which prevent the development of diseases. The following are the levels in which health promotion or disease prevention go through.
Communication
This is done through word of mouth, mass media platforms, public announcements, newsletters or any other form of communication channels where it raises awareness of healthy habits that people should adopt to maintain or promote healthy life.
Education
This is done through training people on healthy habits that might change the perspective of people and prevent diseases through increased knowledge. Education can be done through training, courses and support groups.
Systems, Policy, and Environment
This step advocates for making changes in the systems through improved rules, laws and regulation that aim at controlling how people behave and encourage healthy habits in people. Rules like mandatory vaccination, screening and reducing the intake of foods and other materials that might cause unhealthy state in an individual.