Professional Documents
Culture Documents
People may view illness and disease as the same entity, health professionals view them
as completely separate.
3. Environment
The physical environment in which a person works or lives can increase
the likelihood that certain illnesses will occur.
4. Lifestyle
1. Biologic Agents
2. Inherited Generic Defects
3. Physical Agents
4. Chemical Agents
5. Tissue response to irritation/injury (fever, inflammation)
6. Faulty chemical or metabolic process
7. Emotional or physical reaction to stress
Classification of Disease
1. Hereditary. Due to defect in the genes of one or other parent which is transmitted
to the offspring.
2. Congenital. Due to a defect in the development, hereditary factors, or prenatal
infection; present at birth. (e.g. cleft lip, cleft palate)
3. Metabolic. Due to disturbances or abnormality in the intricate processes of
metabolism.
4. Deficiency. Results from inadequate intake of absorption of essential dietary
factors.
5. Traumatic. Due to injury.
6. Allergic. Due to abnormal response of the body to chemical or protein
substances or to physical stimuli.
7. Neoplastic. Due to abnormal or uncontrolled growth of cells.
8. Idiopathic. Cause is unknown; Self-originated; of spontaneous origin.
9. Degenerative. Results from the degenerative changes that occur in tissue and
organs.
10. Iatrogenic. Results from the treatment of a disease.
Characterized by:
Remission - Period during which the disease is controlled
symptoms are not obvious
Exacerbation - The disease becomes more active again at a future
time, recurrence of pronounced symptoms.
Terminologies
Epidemiology. Study of the patterns of health and disease, its occurrence and
distribution in man, for the purpose of control and prevention of disease.
Susceptibility. The degree of resistance the potential host has against the pathogen.
Etiologic Agent. One that possesses the potential for producing injury or disease. (e.g.
Streptococcus, Staphylococcus)
Pathology. The branch of medicine which deals with the cause, nature, treatment and
resultant structural and functional changes of disease.
Prognosis. Prediction of the course and of a disease, medical opinion as to the outcome
of a disease process. Good prognosis means that there is great possibility to recover
from the disease and poor prognosis means that there is great risk for morbidity or
mortality.
Recovery. Implies that the person has no observable or known after effects from his
illness; there is apparent restoration to the pre-illness state.
Precursor of Illness
These are the factors which impose on the individuals to lead towards illness spectrum.
2 Behavioral factors. e.g. cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, high animal fat intake.
Stages of Illness
1. Symptom Experience
Transition stage.
The person experience believes something is wrong.
Experience some symptoms.
3 aspects:
- physical (fever, muscles aches, malaise, headaches)
- cognitive (perception of “having flu”)
- emotional (worry on consequences of illness)
Effects of Illness
Privacy
Autonomy
Financial burden
Life-style
Family and significant others
Role changes
Tasks reassignments and increase demands on time Increase
stress due to anxiety about the outcome of the illness
Financial problems
Loneliness resulting from separation and pending loss Change in
social customs
Health Promotion – an activity undertaken for the purpose of achieving higher level of
health and wellness.
Three Levels of Prevention
Early diagnosis/detention/screening
Prompt treatment to limit disability
Prevention of complication
Primary Prevention
Quit smoking
Avoid or limit alcohol intake
Exercise regularly
Eat well-balanced diet
Reduce fat and increase fiber in diet
Take adequate fluids
Avoid over exposure to sunlight
Maintain ideal body weight
Wear hazard devices in work site
Complete Immunization program
Secondary Prevention
1. Information Dissemination
Use of variety of media to offer information to the public about the particular
lifestyles choices and personal behavior, the benefits of changing that behavior
and improving the quality of life.
1. Prevention of medical crisis and and the management of problems once they
occur
2. Control of symptoms
3. Carrying out prescribed regimens and the management of problems attendant
with adhering to self-care
4. Prevention of, or living with, social isolation that decreases contact with others
5. Adjustment to changes in the course of the disease, whether it exacerbates or
enters remissions
6. Normalizing both interactions with others and one’s lifestyles
7. Funding (finding the necessary money to pay for treatments or to survive
despite partial or complete loss of employment
8. Confronting attendant psychological, marital and family problems