Free Essay Sample on Concepts of Health and Illness

Introduction

Since my family members share genes, lifestyles, habits, and environment, we have recognized characteristics such as leanness, curly hair, and dimples that run in our family. we has also realized that some diseases risk factors, including cancer, heart disease, asthma, and diabetes, run in some families. Thus, our family health concept is that we can decrease the risk of illness by exercising, not smoking, and consuming a healthy diet. As such, we acknowledge that family history is a significant effect on its member’s risk of developing some conditions, including diabetes, cancer, and stroke. Although we cannot alter our family genetic makeup, understanding our family history has helped us reduce the risk of developing health issues. Hence, this paper will discuss my personal and family view of health and wellness, models of health, dimensions of wellness, individual and family cultural health practices, and illustrate ongoing development of diversity and cultural safety in nursing practice.

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Personal Health

From my point of view, wellness refers to personal health, which implies controlling and managing my health through conscious decision making. Thus, wellness not only means individuals' physical well-being; rather, it also encompasses the wellness of spiritual, emotional, social, intellectual, economic, and other spheres of life (Twohig-Bennett & Jones, 2018). It is more than a dynamic process of growth and change; the state of entire social, mental, spiritual, and physical well-being and not just the absence of infirmity or disease. The family image above represents wellness, as it highlights the value my family places on kiwis outdoor physical activities. My husband and my daughter are the closest family members I have, and we do our best to incorporate our African culture with the kiwi culture for the sake of our child. My family believes that wellness is an active process of making sound choices concerning a fulfilling and healthy life through managing our exercise and nutrition. The above family picture depicts the family's wellness by spending some time outdoors and having fun together. According to Twohig-Bennett & Jones (2018), spending some time outside has wide-ranging and significant health benefits by reducing stress, anxiety, depression, hypertension, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Outdoor activities present an excellent opportunity for socializing and exercise and improving self-esteem for the family members (Twohig-Bennett & Jones, 2018). Moreover, we believe that exposure to various bacteria present in the natural areas has benefits for our immune system and decrease the risks of inflammation. Also, my family believes that physical outdoor activities for children can enhance their general quality of life. Lack of play outside in the fresh air for children may be harmful as it impacts mental and physical health and can lead to nature-deficit disorder (Twohig-Bennett & Jones, 2018). Proper nutrition can help avoid a range of illnesses such as obesity, fall risk behaviors, and heart illnesses (WHO, 2003). We try to incorporate African and kiwi dishes in our diet, eating healthy balanced food. Therefore, to live a healthy lifestyle, we focus on exercise, socializing, and proper nutrition.

Behavioral Change Model

The behavioral change model is widely employed in New Zealand as part of a chosen health aproach. It emphasizes promoting good lifestyle behaviors that affect health; hence, it is a preventative method. It aims to persuade people to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors, utilize preventive health services, and assume responsibility for their health (Baum & Fisher, 2014). It advocates for a medicalized perspective of health that is symbolized by the likelihood to blame the patient for their condition. The foundation of the model is built on the notion that giving people information changes their behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes as illustrated in the image above (Baum & Fisher, 2014). We suppose that if we are better informed as a family on matters of wellness and our health needs by a health professional, we will become more aware of healthy lifestyles and change our attitudes. As such, we act and actively seek for medical attention and consultation. Subsequently, we are motivated to lead a healthy lifestyle and make health our responsibility. The approach suggests healthism, a set of beliefs founded on the assumption that health is merely a personal responsibility (Baum & Fisher, 2014). Thus, when a family member learns about wellness, it is transmitted to other members, enhancing their understanding of the factors that boost and enrich their health. Additionally, we have chosen the model since it emphasizes risks that help in a preventive or protective choice of actions. My family holds physical activity outdoors, plan our diet, and socialize to avoid stress, depression, anxiety, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and other conditions. Thus, the model targets poor health behaviors such as physical inactivity, smoking, and eating high-fat diets and improves people's health status by encouraging them to change their attitudes toward health practices.

Social Welness

Social wellness means our capacity to interact successfully with others and live up to our roles' demands and expectations. It means developing good relationships with others, learning good communication skills, and developing a support network of family members, friends, and others (Khattak et al., 2016). As a family, social wellness is about nurturing ourselves and our relationships. The above image shows the positive impact of social wellness and health, which comprises participating in and enjoying positive interactions with other family members and friends during leisure or work. By participating in kiwis outdoor activities, we have created a culture of building and maintaining healthy friendships and intimate relationships. First, we appreciate ourselves and others while learning to give more time and energy to positives instead of negatives, which help to keep us healthier, hopeful, and happier. According to Khattak et al., (2016), individuals who are socially isolated have a higher likelihood of disease, more likely to develop chronic conditions. They mostly have a death rate of 2-3 times compared to those who are not socially isolated (Bost., 2017). We openly communicate our thought, desires, needs, and feelings and keenly listen and show empathy when others share. Also, we try to find balance in life, and we are prepared to deal with hindrances through practicing self-care. Bost (2017) contends that self-care embraces necessities like eating healthy, regularly exercising, getting enough sleep, bathing, and brushing our teeth and avoid drinking alcohol and smoking. We are mindful of the commitment we make and the purpose of keeping them. Bost (2017) points out that socializing helps us strengthen our family support system and ensure that the family members, co-workers, and friends feel respected, loved, accepted, and valued for who they are. Besides, contributing to society develops a sense of belonging, raises our self-esteem, and improve our confidence. As such, social wellness is a crucial part of individual general health since humans are social creatures.

Physical Welness

The physical wellness dimension refers to promoting regular activities that generate strength, endurance, and flexibility, furthering knowledge about food and nutrition, dissuading excessive consumption of alcohol, using drugs, and promoting healthy sleeping habits (Khan et al., 2015). It is properly caring for our bodies to function optimally and properly. Thus, it is a complete combination of the states of spiritual, physical, and mental well-being (Khan et al., 2015). The image above depicts physical wellness. The advantages of exercise are not limited to physical benefits, but it is also psychologically helpful. Every time I exercise, I tend to feel physically fit, and it contributes to enhanced outward appearance. My sleeping patterns improve, helping me fall asleep quickly and deepen my sleep. Consequently, other benefits such as enhanced self-confidence, a sense of direction, and self-control follow the physical merits of feeling terrific and looking good. Frequent physical exercise relieves anxiety, depression, anger, and stress; it decreases the stress hormones in the body and stimulates endorphins production (Khan et al., 2015). Individuals who maintain regular physical activity suppose that they feel better in their daily lives. Exercise also enhances a person’s health through; improving blood circulation, reducing cardiovascular disease risk, assist in controlling a person’s blood pressure, and decreasing the probability of developing many other poor health conditions (Khan et al., 2015). In addition, individuals who are active physically promote and maintain good emotional well-being and psychological health in several ways; thus, their quality of life is enhanced (Khan et al., 2015). Besides, applying skills and knowledge of exercise, safety, and proper nutrition to daily routine increase the capacity to live a physically fit life. Having well-balanced devotion between physical activity and diet reflects every element of a person’s life, and most importantly, the mental ability is improved to the maximum (Khan et al., 2015). Therefore, there are many benefits to enhancing a person’s physical health.

Cilture

Culture is a model of behaviors, ideas, and customs shared by a particular community and is continually changing (Tapiceria et al., 2010). Heath is a cultural view since culture shapes and frames how we understand our experience and the world. The image above demonstrates how the kiwi culture has influenced personal and family cultural health practices. New Zealanders enjoy the outdoors and are tied closely to the environment. Also, the Maori culture whereby all people can come together as a family and feel at home; and shelter, food, and stories are shared has influence personal and family cultural practices (Tapiceria et al., 2010). Personally, this culture has impacted me significantly. I love to spend time outdoors walking or relaxing in the green world, which helps me cope with many life stressors. As a family, we have adapted the kiwi culture of staying outdoor, playing games, and socializing with friends and other people forging respectful and loving relationships, which makes one feel accepted, loved, and valued. Moreover, it improves an individual’s self-confidence and develops a sense of belonging. Playing outdoors or riding bikes in open spaces as exercise helps us gain physical fitness improving our outward appearance and mental health (Tapiceria et al., 2010). As a family, we learned to incorporate the African culture and the kiwi lifestyle, even in the diet, for our daughter's sake. When planning our weekly diet, we ensure that she consumes a combination of African and kiwi dishes. For instance, a typical kiwi meal comprises deep-fried fish and potatoes. In contrast, an African meal contains herbs and cereals, which ensure that she consume a low-fat diet preventing chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Conclusion

Today, nurses globally provide care for a rising population of linguistically and culturally different patients. As such, there is a need for cultural competence in terms of healthcare quality and additional knowledge regarding various approaches and models that target to enhance cultural awareness. Ideally, improved cultural awareness may enable the interaction between the patients and nurses, which is a vital aspect of quality healthcare service.