Module-V

Preventing and fighting against diseases for good health

Disease Vs Illness:
Disease is something that needs to be cured, such as infection, injury, toxic exposure, cell
degeneration, etc.
Illness is something that needs to be managed such as feelings of pain, discomfort,
distress, weakness, fatigue, etc.
Germs according to CDC (CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION)
Germs are a part of everyday life and are found in our air, soil, water, and in and on our
bodies. Some germs
are helpful, others are harmful. Many germs live in and on our bodies without causing
harm and some even
help us to stay healthy. Only a small portion of germs are known to cause infection.
• An infection occurs when germs enter the body, increase in number, and cause a
reaction of the body.
• Three things are necessary for an infection to occur:
1. Source: Places where infectious agents. (germs) live (e.g., sinks, surfaces, human skin)
2. Susceptible Person with a way for germs to enter the body.
3. Transmission: a way germs are moved to the susceptible person.
How to protect from different types of transmitted infections
Preventing infections and avoid spreading infections through simple tactics:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Avoid touching your face.
• Stay home if you’re sick.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are touched often.
• Avoid contaminated food and water.
• Prevent contaminated medical equipments.
• Avoiding the contact with the body fluids of infected.
• Hand-washing, Medicines and Vaccines.
• Prevent infections by sexual transmission
How to reduce risks for good health
• Be a non-smoker and avoid second hand smoke. If one smokes need to get help to quit.
• Be physically active everyday.
• Eat healthy foods.
• Achieve a healthy weight.
• Control your blood pressure.
• Limit your intake of alcohol.
• Reduce your stress.
• Be screened or tested regularly.
• Practice Hygiene.
• Remain Social
Reducing risks and coping with chronic conditions
Chronic illness
• What is chronic disease/illness?
• Chronic diseases are defined broadly as conditions that last for one year or more and
require ongoing medical attention, as well as limit activities of daily living.
• Example: heart disease, cancer, diabetes
• They are also leading drives of the nation’s large scale health care costs.
• Based on the latest data from CDC (center for disease control), 10 most expensive
chronic diseases are:
• Cardio vascular diseases
• Smoking related health issues
• Alcohol related health issues
• Diabetes
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cancer
• Obesity
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Stoke
• At any given time 50% of the population has a chronic condition.
• The medical management of chronic disorders accounts for three quarters nation’s
health spending excluding nursing home care.
• The chronically sick account for 90% of home care visits
• 83%of prescription drug use
• 80% of the days spent in hospitals
• 66% of doctors visit
• 55% of visits to hospital emergency rooms
• These conditions are not confined to the elderly. More than one third young adults
of ages 18 to 44 have at least one chronic disability.
• At time each one of us will hear a physician say that our condition is chronic and
cannot be cured. It can be managed.
Quality of life has several components. Specifically,
• Physical functioning
• Psychological status
• Social functioning
• Disease or treatment
Assessment of quality of life in chronic illness
• Till now the assessment of the quality of life of chronically ill was based on how much
the disease and treatment interferes with the activities of daily living such as
• Sleeping,
• Eating,
• Going to work and
• Engaging in recreational activities
• For patients with more advanced diseases, such assessments include whether the
patient is able to bathe, dress, use toilet, be mobile, be content, and eat without
assistance
• Essentially the quality of life assessment gauge the extent to which a patient’ normal
life activities have been compromised by disease and treatment
Health and Wellness of youth:
A challenge for the upcoming
• Youth is the time of life when one is young and often means the time between
childhood and adulthood.
• It is also defined as “the appearance, freshness, vigor, spirit, etc.,
• Its definitions of a specific age range varies, as youth is not defined chronologically as a
stage that can be tied to specific age ranges, nor can its end point be linked to specific
activities
• Good life style choices for better quality of life
• Dealing with multiple health condition
• Getting support from others for better quality of life
Health and wellness of youth: a challenge for upcoming future

Health and wellness

•Health is a state of well-being
•Wellness is the state of living a healthy life styles
•Health refers to physical, mental and social well being
•Wellness aims to enhance well-being. It can affect physical, mental and social well-
being

Health and wellness in youth

•High levels of health and wellness in youth help them flourish in life as well as act
as a protective factor against some of the challenges that may arise during this
period.
•Youth with strong mental well-being are able to manage their emotions, enjoy
positive relationships with friends and family
Challenges facing youth
•In may 2014 W H O published a major report called “Health for the world’s adolescent.”
•The report analyses what is known about adolescents’ health
•It includes topic of what promotes or undermines it, gaps in policies and services, and
draws together guidance and recommendations FACTS

FACTS
•An estimated 1.3 million adolescents died in 2012, mostly from preventable or treatable
causes.
•Road traffic injuries were the leading cause of death in 2012, with some 330 adolescents
dying every day.
•Other main causes of adolescent deaths include HIV, suicide, lower respiratory
infections and interpersonal violence.
•Globally, there were 49 births per 1000 girls aged 15 to 19, according to 2010 figures.
•Half of all mental health disorders in adulthood appear to start by age 14, but most
cases are undetected and untreated
Measures of health status
•An individual’s health status is usually measured by a health professional
•Measurement of population health status is carried using statistics and data presented
as a set of measurement or indicators. It includes:-Life expectancy; health adjusted life
expectancy; morbidity; under-five mortality; burden of disease; disability adjusted life
year; incidence; and prevalence.

Wealth Status
•What Is Wealth? Wealth measures the value of all the assets of worth owned by a
person, community, company, or country. Wealth is determined by taking the total
market value of all physical and intangible assets owned, then subtracting all debts.
Essentially, wealth is the accumulation of scarce resources.
•Specific people, organizations, and nations are said to be wealthy when they are able to
accumulate many valuable resources or goods.
•Wealth can be contrasted to income in that wealth is a stock and income is a flow, and it
can be seen in either absolute or relative terms.