HEALTH AND WELLNESS

HEALTH
-State of complete physical, mental, and social well being and not merely the absence of disease.

WELLNESS
-an integrated method of functioning which is oriented toward maximizing the potential of which the
individual is capable.
-It requires the individual maintain a continuum of the balance and purposeful direction within the
environment where he is functioning.(HalbertDunn)

ILLNESS

-is a state in which someone in needs.; are not sufficiently met to allow the individual to have a sense of
physical and psycho social well being.

DIMENSION OF WELLNESS
(FACTORS AFFECTING HEALTH AND ILLNESS)
1. PHYSICAL DIMENSION
- Genetic make-up, age, developmental level, race and sex. It strongly influence
health status and health practices.
EX: the toddler just learning to walk is prone to fall and injure himself.
: the young woman who has the history of breast cancer and diabetes, therefore is at a higher
risk to develop these condition.
2. EMOTIONAL DIMENSION
- how the mind and body interact to affect body function and respond to body
conditions also influences health.
EX: -prior to a test, a student always has diarrhea.
- extremely nervous about the surgery, a man experiences severe pain followinh his operation.
3. INTELLECTUAL DIMENSION
- The intellectual dimension encompasses cognitive abilities , educational background
and past experiences.
-these influence a clients responses to teaching about health and reactions to health
care during illness.
 EXAMPLES:
-an elderly woman who has only a third grade education who needs teaching about a
complicated diagnostic test.
- a young college student with diabetes who follows a diabetic diet but continues to
drink beer and eat pizza with friends several times a week.
4. ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSION
- the environment has many influences on health and illness.
- housing, sanitation, climate and pollution of air, food and water are aspects of
environmental dimension.
EXAMPLE:
-increased incidence of asthma and respioratory problems in large cities with smog.
5. SOCIO-CULTURAL DIMENSION
-health practices and beliefs are strongly influenced by a person’s economic level, life
style, family and culture.
-low income groups are less likely to seek health to prevent or treat illness;
-high income groups are more prone to stress related habits and illness.
EXAMPLE: the adolescent who sees nothing wrong with smoking or drinking because his parents smoke
and drink.
5. SPRIRITUAL DIMENSION
- spiritual and religious beliefs and values are important components of the way of the
person believes in health and illness.
EXAMPLES: Roman Catholic require baptism for both live births and still births babies.
-Jehovah’s witnessess are opposed to blood transfusions.
STAGES OF ILLNESS:
STAGE 1: SYMPTOM EXPERIENCE
-The person is aware that “something is wrong”. A person is usually recognizes a
physical sensation or a limitation in functioning but does not suspect a specific diagnosis.
-The person’s perception of a symptom includes: pain, rash or lump.
STAGE 2: ASSUMPTION OF THE SICK ROLE
- if a symptoms persist and become severe, clients assume the sick role. At this point,
the illness becomes a social phenomenon, and sick people seek confirmation from the families, and
social groups that they are indeed ill and that they be excused from normal duties and role expectations.
STAGE 3: MEDICAL CARE CONTACT
-If a symptom persist , despite home remedies, become severe or require emergency
care, the person is motivated to seek professional health services . In this stage, the client seek expert
acknowledgement of the illness as well as the treatment.
STAGE 4: DEPENDENT CLIENT ROLE
- The client depend on the health care professionals for the relief of symptoms. The
client accept care, sympathy and protection from the demands and stresses of life. A client can adopt
the dependent role in a health care institution at home, or in a community setting. The client must also
adjust to the disruption of a daily schedule.
STAGE 5: RECOVERY AND REHABILITATION
- This stage can arrive suddenly, such as when the symptoms disappeared. In the case of
chronic illnesses , the final stage may involve in an adjustment to a prolonged reduction in health and
functioning.

THREE LEVELS OF PREVENTION

1. PRIMARY PREVENTION
-Providing a specific protection against disease to prevent its occurrence in the most
desirable form of prevention.
-Primary preventive efforts spare the client the cost, discomfort and the threat to the
quality of life that illness possess or at least delay the onset of illness.
-Preventive measures consist of counselling, education, and adoption of specific health practices
or changes in life syles.
EXAMPLES: mandatory immunization of children belonging to the age range of o-9 months to control
acute infectious disease.
:minimizing contamination of the work or general environment by dust, smoke,
chemical pollutants and excessive noise
2. SECONDARY PREVENTION
-It consist of organized , direct screening efforts or education of the public to promote
early case finding of an individual with disease so that prompt intervention can be instituted to halt
pathologic processes and limit disability.
-early diagnosis of a health problem can decreased the catastrophic effects that might
otherwise result for the individual and the family from advanced illness and its many complications.

EXAMPLES:
- Public education to promote breast self examination, use of home kits for detection of
occult blood in stool specimens and familiarity with the danger signals of cancer.
-screening program for hypertension, diabetes, uterine cancer(paps smear) breast
cancer examination(mammography)STD
3.TERTIARY PREVENTION
-it begins early in the period of recovery from illness and consist of such activities as
consistent and appropriate administration of medications to optimize therapeutic effects., moving and
positioning to prevent complications of immobility and passive and active exercises to prevent dis
ability.