Chapter 1: Concepts of Health and Wellbeing

Question 1

What is health?

Answer 1

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

Question 2

What is health and wellbeing?

Answer 2

• Includes health outcomes and is characterised by an equilibrium where one feels happy, healthy, capable and engaged
• Includes all 5 dimensions of health.

Question 3

What is an illness?

Answer 3

Concept that relates to negative aspects of health and wellbeing

Question 4

What is a disease

Answer 4

Physical/mental disturbance and is diagnosed by professional
- Involves symptoms, dysfunction of tissue damage

Question 5

What is the difference between disease and infirmity?

Answer 5

Disease:
- Physical/mental disturbance & diagnosed by professional
- Actual condition

Illness:
- one’s own perception of feelings
- Like self-diagnosed

Question 6

What is infirmity?

Answer 6

• Quality/state of being weak/ill
• Often associated with old age

Question 7

What does it mean when it says H+W is dynamic?
E.g?

Answer 7

• Constantly changing
• E.g. One can be happy and socialising but may change the next week due to friend leaving school, thus causing a change in dynamic

Question 8

Why is H+W subjective?

Answer 8

• H+W influenced by/based on personal beliefs, feelings or opinions
• Everyone view it differently

Question 9

What are some factors that could influence one’s H+W

Answer 9

• Age
• Fitness
• Body
• Social networks
• Income
• Education

Question 10

E.g of H+W being subjective

Answer 10

Elderly person may view H+W as good if able to live independently and look after themselves

Question 11

What is a chronic condition?

Answer 11

• Any disease or condition that lasts a long time (usually > 6 months)
• Usually cannot be cured, thus require ongoing treatment

Question 12

What are the 5 dimensions of H+W?

Answer 12

• Physical
• Mental
• Emotional
• Social
• Spiritual

Question 13

What is Physical H+W

Answer 13

• Relates to efficient functioning of the body and its systems
• Includes physical capacity to perform daily tasks

Question 14

E.g of optimal physical H+W?

Answer 14

• Adequate energy levels
• Ability to complete physical tasks adequately
• Strong immune system
• Freedom from illness, disease and injury

Question 15

What is Mental H+W

Answer 15

• State of one’s mind or brain that relates to the ability to think and process information

Question 16

E.g of Optimal Mental H+W

Answer 16

• Use logic and reasoning to form opinions and make decisions
• Positive thought patterns (optimistic)
• Positive self-esteem
• Low levels of stress and anxiety

Question 17

What is Emotional H+W

Answer 17

• Ability to express emotions and feelings in a positive way

Question 18

E.g of Optimal Emotional H+W

Answer 18

• High levels of resilience
• Recognise and understand range of emotions
• Effectively respond to and manage emotions
• Feel emotionally secure and relaxed

Question 19

What is Social H+W

Answer 19

Ability to form meaningful relationships with others and manage/adapt to different social situations appropriately

Question 20

E.g of optimal social H+W

Answer 20

• Supportive network of friends and family
• Effective communication with others
• Personal accountability

Question 21

What is Spiritual H+W

Answer 21

• Relates to ideas, beliefs, values and ethics that arise in the minds and conscience of human beings.
• Includes concepts of hope, peace sense of meaning/value and having own place in the world

Question 22

E.g of optimal Spiritual H+W

Answer 22

• Sense of belonging to world
• Positive meaning and purpose in life
• Acting according to values and beliefs

Question 23

Difference between spirituality and religion

Answer 23

Religion:
- Structured and organised form of spirituality

Spirituality:
- No connection to organised religion

Question 24

Link between spiritual h+w and physical and emotional h+w

Answer 24

If someone was experiencing optimal spiritual h+w they may be seen to have well defined values and beliefs along with a strong sense of purpose. A strong sense of purpose may allow a person to take more care of himself or herself, which could promote a healthy body weight (physical h+w). A person with well defined values and beliefs may have the confidence within themselves to express a range of emotions and also feel comfortable with the range of emotions that they experience over their lifetime (emotional h+w).

Question 25

E.g of how 5 dimensions of H+W can influence each other - Physical and Mental

Answer 25

Stress can lower immune system function, thus increase risk of infectious disease

Question 26

E.g of how 5 dimensions of H+W can influence each other - Mental and Spiritual

Answer 26

- Believing that life has a positive meaning and purpose can enhance self-esteem and optimism

Question 27

E.g of how 5 dimensions of H+W can influence each other - Social and Emotional

Answer 27

When one able to express emotions and share feelings with friends, can promote more meaningful relationships

Question 28

What is Optimal H+W

Answer 28

- State when all 5 dimensions of H+W are at its peak - Highest level of H+W one can realistically attain at a particular time.

Question 29

How does Optimal H+W benefit an individual?

Answer 29

- Increases ability for one to live free from pain and concentrate on activities that improve their lives such as working, socialising - Decreases stress and anxiety and promotes positive emotions such as happiness - Reduces healthcare costs, thus increase amount of money to spend on others e.g education, food, housing

Question 30

List of e.g

Answer 30

- Work productively - Live independently - Gain an education - Earn an income

Question 31

E.g Optimal H+W benefit an individual

Answer 31

Being free from disease and illness (physical H+W) --> able to work and thus enhance purpose in life (Spiritual H+W)

Question 32

Benefits of Optimal H+W Nationally

Answer 32

- Higher average income - Reduced healthcare costs - Reduce risk of premature death and development of illness and disease (enhance mental h+w as less loved ones dying) - Increase productivity: more likely to engage with job and work to their best --> increase economy through higher taxation revenue -->less people rely on social security due to reduced unemployment

Question 33

Benefit of H+W Globally

Answer 33

- Reduce risk of infectious or communicable diseases spreading between countries - Promote sustainability: gov generate more tax revenue --> used to promote sustainable energy, water

Question 34

Benefit of H+W Globally - Peace and Security

Answer 34

- Contribute to world peace and security: Healthy --> More productive --> increased access to resources (education, food, employment) for decent standard of living - Unhealthy --> resort to extreme measures to access resources to ensure survival --> conflict national/international

Question 35

What are Prerequisites for Health? - Acronym

Answer 35

People Should Eat Food Including Some Sustainable Salad Everyday

Question 36

What are Prerequisites for Health?

Answer 36

- Peace - Shelter - Education - Food - Income - Stable ecosystem - Sustainable resources - Social resources - Equity

Question 37

Prerequisites for Health and Effects on 5 dimensions - Peace

Answer 37

- Absence of conflict from war - Decrease risk of premature death, serious injury, disability (Physical H+W) - Decrease risk of injury, decrease stress and anxiety (Mental H+W) - Preserves infrastructure such as schools, healthcare systems, etc

Question 38

Prerequisites for Health and Effects on 5 dimensions - Shelter

Answer 38

- Provides protection from outside environment - Promote adequate sleep --> increase one's ability to join in activities e.g socialising (Social H+W) - Promote feelings of privacy, safety and security --> reduce stress and anxiety (Mental H+W)

Question 39

Prerequisites for Health and Effects on 5 dimensions - Education

Answer 39

- Increase ability to earn an income --> able to afford resources e.g food, shelter, healthcare - Promote literacy: more likely to join in activities and maintain social connections (Social H+W) - increase employment --> higher income --> higher confidence

Question 40

Prerequisites for Health and Effects on 5 dimensions - Food

Answer 40

- Increases ability to consume required nutrients -->increase immune system --> adequate energy levels (Physical H+W) - Food security: spend less time looking for food --> decrease stress as know food available (Mental H+W)

Question 41

Prerequisites for Health and Effects on 5 dimensions - Income

Answer 41

- Increase ability to afford resources e.g healthcare, transport, education - Able to more easily afford healthcare e.g surgery, immunisation (Physical H+W) - Able to enjoy leisure activities --> reduce stress and anxiety (Mental H+W) --> more choices to join social activities (Social H+W)

Question 42

Prerequisites for Health and Effects on 5 dimensions - Stable Ecosystem (and what happens if unstable ecosystem)

Answer 42

- When balance achieved between environment and species that live in environment - More resources available for human use and can regenerate as quickly as being used. Unbalanced ecosystem: resources used faster than can regenerate --> less available for consumption

Question 43

Prerequisites for Health and Effects on 5 dimensions - Sustainable resources

Answer 43

- Meeting needs of present without impacting ability of future generations to meet own needs - Sustainable use of land and water required for ongoing food and water supply --> prevent disease (Physical H+W) - Ensuring that the resources used to promote h+w in present are available for future generations, thus able to experience good quality life

Question 44

Prerequisites for Health and Effects on 5 dimensions - Social justice

Answer 44

- Equal rights for all regardless of personal traits e.g sexuality, class, income, ethnicity, etc - People have same access to resources and opportunities e.g education, healthcare, employment

Question 45

Prerequisites for Health and Effects on 5 dimensions - Equity

Answer 45

- Fairness particularly to those disadvantaged to improve quality of life and achieve minimum standards of living