2.3: Factors Affecting 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. A variety of factors influence a person's health and well-being.

For instance, risk factors are connected to illness, disability, disease, or death. In general, the following groups represent risk factors:

• 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.

Illness is a deviation from normal health, either physically or mentally, based on an individual's perception. It may or may not be related to a disease condition.

Risk factors for illness are considered modifiable or non-modifiable. In the majority of cases, we find that modifiable factors give rise to non-modifiable risk.

Let us take the example of cigarette smoking. Smoking is a modifiable risk factor, and the repeated use of cigarettes may lead to lung cancer—a non-modifiable risk.

Many risk factors can increase the possibility of illness. Age is one such risk factor, especially in children of school-going age and in older adults.

Genetic factors are also considered to be risk factors for illnesses such as cancer and diabetes.

Physiologic factors like obesity increase the possibility of heart disease.

Lifestyle habits such as smoking or poor nutrition may lead to many health problems.

Other factors, such as working environments with exposure to hazardous materials or stress can also lead to illness.