2.1
Concepts of Health and Illness
Health is a balance of physical, mental, and social well-being. It is not limited to just the absence of disease.
Similarly, wellness is an active, healthy state which includes practicing a lifestyle that promotes physical, mental, and emotional health.
The concept of health can be visualized through several models.
The health belief model focuses on three components of individual perception: perceived susceptibility, perceived seriousness, and perceived action.
It is commonly used to explain and predict health-related behaviors, especially regarding the utilization of health services.
The health promotion model also comprises three components: in this case, health education, illness prevention, and health protection.
It notes that each person has unique personal characteristics and experiences that may affect subsequent actions.
The health-illness continuum model views health as a constantly changing state and allows for an assessment of the level of health along a spectrum.
It proposes that an individual can move to the right towards greater health and that this can be achieved by awareness, education, and growth.
Finally, the agent-host-environment model considers the interaction between an external agent, a susceptible host, and the environment.
Health is a condition of the body, mind, and spirit where an individual remains free from illness. Similarly, wellness is an active state, including living a lifestyle that promotes physical, mental, and emotional health. Physical health is critical for the overall well-being and can be affected by lifestyle, activity level, diet, and behavior. The highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental and universal human right. Consider Lisa, a fifteen-year-old born with congenital malformations. Although she requires ongoing treatment for her illness, she is an active class member and takes gymnastics lessons. Would Lisa be described as healthy? Besides her physical condition, how she plans and executes her schedule in her day-to-day life promotes her all-around health.
There are four major concepts in health. The biomedical concept views the human body as a machine, disease as a breakdown of the machine, and the doctor as the one to repair the machine. The ecological concept states that improving human adaptation to the natural environment can lead to a better quality of life. The psychosocial concept states that health is a biological and social phenomenon, and the holistic concept synthesizes all three concepts.
Health is a balance of physical, mental, and social well-being. It is not limited to just the absence of disease.
Similarly, wellness is an active, healthy state which includes practicing a lifestyle that promotes physical, mental, and emotional health.
The concept of health can be visualized through several models.
The health belief model focuses on three components of individual perception: perceived susceptibility, perceived seriousness, and perceived action.
It is commonly used to explain and predict health-related behaviors, especially regarding the utilization of health services.
The health promotion model also comprises three components: in this case, health education, illness prevention, and health protection.
It notes that each person has unique personal characteristics and experiences that may affect subsequent actions.
The health-illness continuum model views health as a constantly changing state and allows for an assessment of the level of health along a spectrum.
It proposes that an individual can move to the right towards greater health and that this can be achieved by awareness, education, and growth.
Finally, the agent-host-environment model considers the interaction between an external agent, a susceptible host, and the environment.
From Chapter 2:
Now Playing
2.1 : Concepts of Health and Illness
Introduction to Health
22.5K Views
2.2 : Dimensions of Health and Illness
Introduction to Health
10.2K Views
2.3 : Factors Affecting Illness
Introduction to Health
5.5K Views
2.4 : Classification of Illness
Introduction to Health
9.7K Views
2.5 : Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
Introduction to Health
15.6K Views
2.6 : Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention I
Introduction to Health
3.0K Views
2.7 : Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II
Introduction to Health
2.2K Views
2.8 : Maslow's Theory of Basic Human Needs
Introduction to Health
3.3K Views