The dictionary defines health as “a: the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit; especially: freedom from physical disease or pain, b: the general condition of the body” (Merriam-Webster, 2008). This Paper defines or gives the meaning of the term health by looking into the importance of liberty from the restrictions imposed by the presence of pain, sickness or emotional and mental disturbances.
It takes into consideration that problems and infections exist everywhere, and the whole scheme of healthy behavior is not just confined to physical food and preferences attached to that but the mental or psychological dimensions are vital and part of the whole schema (National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, NIDDK, 2008). In this period of advanced science and technology everyone experiences stress. A person is physically or mentally demanding or dangerous situation is said to be under stress.
Change, anxiety, frustrations, conflicts, and pressures are stressors. The effects of stress are often negative. It is oftentimes taken for granted the preponderance of individuals and families to opt for an unhealthy lifestyle and this is usually a very important aspect in understanding diabetes or whatever kind of illness for that matter. 2. What are the areas of strength and the areas of weakness identified in your health? The author is a 35 year old female 5’6” height with no current health history of illness. These are just some of her areas of strengths.
In addition, she tries to exercise twice a week, does not drink or smoke; tries to eat healthy food. She does not eat beef or chicken only fish from meat family; moreover, she does eat a lot of vegetable and fruit. The author’s areas of weakness include the fact that she does have family history of heart disease from the maternal side. The author’s maternal grand mother side had breast cancer and died due to heart attack at the age of 84. Moreover, her father is currently diagnosed in type II diabetes, with which she is in the greatest risk.
People with diabetes, as studies show often do not die due to the illness itself but to the other diseases that follow when this diabetes occurs(National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, NIDDK, 2008). People die of heart complications or stroke, which in her case, already is indicated in both of my parents. 3. Which of the health indicators from the list above (at least 1) are appropriate? Diabetes fits in with her profile as her age, tendency for sedentary lifestyle and risks within her family bloodline shows. 4.
Focus areas for your health based upon the strengths and weaknesses described? Focus areas include diet and physical exercise – moderation of lifestyle or lifestyle changes for a planned and long-term duration and thorough education of the disease and its complications. 5. Why is this particular health indicator relevant to your health? It is relevant considering that her parents developed the risks which had been in the generations prior to theirs. She, too runs a high risk to develop not only diabetes but the complications from the onset of this disease.
She is already in her middle adulthood years or stage which increases her susceptibility to the illness. 6. What are two measurable outcomes you could set for yourself based on this indicator? Nutrition or diet is one measurable outcome which she will be able to realistically plan and meet. Knowledge concerning calorie count, the types of food that she ingests and not only the kinds of nutrients but the proper amount of which she should be meticulous about. Another is rate and amount of exercise and the type of exercise she should commence to do and consistently implement for a longer duration.
7. What sort of action plan would you implement to assist with meeting these outcomes? It starts with meeting her personal doctor, a nutritionist and a physical fitness expert/instructor. The inputs need to be integrated into a more or less holistic plan but the ultimate need is to have a person who will actually be her buddy who will act as both supervisor and coach, who will prompt and remind her of the long-term commitment she must have to developing a proper lifestyle of good and healthy diet and sufficient exercise. 8. What are 2 RESEARCH articles related to the indicator chosen?
Researches reveal that accurate or sufficient management is important or vital to arrest the presence of diabetes especially if it’s still in the pre-diabetic stage. It points heavily to the vast materials available that refer to the use of structured patient education agenda which involves a team of people who monitor, assess and appraise the person’s physical status at the very beginning of the program. It necessitates too, that there is ongoing pattern or schedule of monitoring and assessment continually educating the person concerned as well as the family or system of social or family structure.
This is necessary because there is an expected flaw in the understanding or absorption of the knowledge and the monitoring ensures that a thorough understanding and assimilation occurs (Coates, 2004). Other studies presented by Lorraine Avery of the Journal of Diabetes Nursing (July-August 2007 issue) confirm the same findings: that a collaborative relationship must exist between patient and team of health care providers for the reduction of symptoms or the delay of the onset of full-blown diabetes to occur.
What Avery elaborated, who herself worked as DSN or consultant nurse was that there should be constant re-education since in her lengthy exposure and experience with this type of disease, patients tend to forget the knowledge, skills and even more important, a critical insight regarding diabetes is that of the patient’s attitude and self-awareness implying that critical to recovery and enhanced health is the relationship with the team of professionals who are working with their disease.
People living with the prospect of having diabetes one day, or even living already with its complications (from damaged nerves, renal problems to blindness, and etc. ) have a lot to fear (National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, NIDDK, 2008). However, many of these stem from ignorance of the whole facts of the disease and its complications. Hence, the bottom-line is education throughout the struggle of this illness and living with it.
Reference:
Avery, Lorraine. July-August 2007. Journal of Diabetes Nursing. Accessed February 18, 2008 <http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m0MDR/is_7_11/ai _n21092777>