Historical development of health
Origins of word “health” did not appear in
writing until ~ AD 1000; derived from word health: being safe or sound and
whole of body
Major concern of health professionals differed across time
In the late 19th century: “how”
of disease or pathogenesis (origin of a disease and chain of events leading to
that disease)
In the 20th century: finding
cures for diseases
Currently: increased emphasis
on health promotion and wellness in individuals, families and communities
Definition of Health
Traditionally, health was defined in terms of presence or absence oF
disease
WHO Definition of Health: “a state of complete physical, mental, and
social well-
being, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity”
Reflect on WHO definition of health:
Reflects concern for individual as total person
functioning physically, psychologically, and socially
Suggests that mental processes determine
people’s relationship with their physical and social surroundings, their attitudes
about life, and their interaction with others
Places health in context of environment
Other Definitions of Health
Health has also been defined in terms of role
and performance; thus a healthy person can perform the requirements of his roles
Personal Definitions of Health
Many factors affect individual definitions of
health:
Previous experiences , Age, Expectations of self, Socio-cultural influences, A person’s definition of
health influences
Wellness: Wellness is a state of well-being
Basic aspects of well-being include self-responsibility
with daily decision-making in nutrition, stress management, physical fitness, preventive
health care, and emotional health
SEVEN ELEMENTS OF WELLNESS
• Environmental: ability
to promote health measures that improve standard of living and quality of life
in the community
• Social: ability to
interact successfully with people, to develop and maintain intimacy with
significant others, and to develop respect and tolerance for others with
different opinions and beliefs
• Emotional: ability
to manage stress
and to express emotions appropriately
• Physical: ability
to carry out daily tasks; achieve fitness; maintain adequate nutrition and
proper body fat; avoid unhealthy addictions; and generally practice positive
lifestyle habits
• Spiritual: belief in some
force that serves to unite human beings and provide meaning and purpose to
life; includes own morals, values, and ethics
• Intellectual : ability
to learn and use information effectively; striving for continued growth and
learning to deal with new challenges
• Occupational: ability
to achieve balance between work and leisure time
The 7 components of wellness
overlap to some extent, and the factors in one component often directly affect
factors in another
Well being : is a subjective
perception of vitality and feeling well… can be described objectively, experienced,
and measured… and can be plotted on a continuum
Variables influencing health status, beliefs and practices These
variables may or may not be under conscious control
Internal Variables
Internal/non-modifiable variables include the following dimensions:
• Biologic (age, gender,
genetic makeup, developmental level),
• Psychological/emotional
(mind-body interactions and self-concept/esteem), and
• Cognitive/intellectual
(lifestyle choices and spiritual and religious beliefs)
For the most part, these variables cannot be changed; however, when
these variables are linked to health problems (ethnic background and
hypertension; health
emphasis with the client to influence external variables
External variables affecting health include:
1. Physical
environment (non-polluted resources and safe habitat and occupation)
2. Standards of
living (occupation, income, education)
3. Family and
cultural beliefs, and (pass from parents to children, type of remedies)
4. Social support
networks (family, friends, community, colleagues, facilities) – to confirm
illness and to recover
Illness: is highly
personal state in which the person’s physical, emotional, intellectual, social,
developmental, or spiritual functioning is thought to be diminished
Not synonymous with
disease , May or may not be related to
disease
Highly subjective; an
individual could have a disease and not feel ill; similarly, a person can feel
ill and yet have no disease
Disease is an alteration in body functions resulting in a
reduction of capacities or a shortening of normal life span
Multiple factors are
considered to interact in causing disease and determining an individual’s
response to treatment
Etiology of disease
includes the identification of all causal factors that act together to bring
about the particular disease
Classification of Illness & Disease: Most common way a acute or chronic
Acute Illness: Characterized by symptoms of
relatively short duration ,, often appear sharply and subside quickly, and
depending on the cause may or may not need interventions by health care workers
Acute Illness: Some acute illnesses are
serious others are not Following acute
illness, most people return to their normal level of wellness
Chronic Illness
Lasts for extended period of time, 6 months or longer, and often for
life
Have slow onset and often have periods of remission (when symptoms
disappear) and exacerbation (when symptoms reappear)
Chronic Illness
Clients often need to modify their activities of daily living, social
relationships, and perception of self and body image, learn how to live with
increasing physical limitations and discomfort
