This assignment will begin by giving a brief definition of health whilst presenting a discussion on the exploration of an individual in relation to making healthy choices. The purpose of this assignment is to look at the effects of making healthy choices and the implications that may occur. In addition, current social policies that relate to health and society, and the effects of smoking in pregnancy will also be discussed.
‘Health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’ (World Health Organisation, 2011) This definition was first cited by the International health conference in July 1946, and the definition has remained the same. Health is a way of life which is reflected
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Research identified that more than 17% of women smoke during pregnancy in England and Wales .Whilst, a staggering 45% of women in their twenties were found to smoke in their pregnancy (BBC News Health 2011). Where as it has said that the current Governments national target is to reduce the proportion of women smoking from 23 percent to 15% during pregnancy by 2010 (Luanaigh et al 2005) Research has emphasised that if this would be successful this would help with the long-term health and could also reduce the estimated costs of £1.4 –£ 1.7 billions to the nation (Bowden et manning 2006)
Research shows that smoking during pregnancy is harmful to both the unborn child and mother. Cigarette smoke causes serious harm to the fetal growth, causes severe neonatal risks and affects the progress of the pregnancy. (BBC News Health) Smoking can also increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, still-birth and sudden expected death in infancy. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2010) highlights that smoking also increases the risk of infant mortality by an estimated 40%. In the recent decades research has emphasised that maternal smoking increases the risk of placenta praevia, abruptio placentae and premature rupture of membranes, this develops other adverse events including serious respiratory illness and asthma attacks and sudden infant death (Luanaigh
In 1946 the World Health Organisation (WHO) defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. This definition integrates the main concepts of health and identifies that health can be viewed differently by individuals and groups (Bowden, 2006). Health and well-being are the result of a combination of physical, social, intellectual and emotional factors (Dunkley, 2000a).
In this case, when a woman smokes cigarettes during her nine months she is passing all of the chemicals found in cigarettes to her unborn baby. This exchange of chemicals from mother to baby is harmful for both of their health, but especially for the baby’s health. The chemicals from nicotine poisoning that are getting passed on to the baby deprives that fetus from getting the nutrients it needs from its mother. By the time the baby is born its lungs will be in terrible condition because the nicotine chemicals have destroyed any healthy enzymes that the baby had in its body. The baby may have respiratory issues where it cannot breathe on its own. The baby will then have to be hooked up to a ventilator and placed in an incubation tube until its oxygen levels are high enough to where it can breathe on its own. In the worst case scenario, the baby might have to be placed on an organ donor transplant list to receive a new lung or lungs because the damage from the mother smoking cigarettes has completely ruined the baby’s lungs to where they are not able to be corrected by doctors. This can cause a baby to stay in the hospital for several weeks to months. A long term effect of smoking cigarettes while pregnant can cause the baby to develop asthma once it is born. The baby’s asthma can be contributed to its lungs and respiratory issues it had presented at the time of birth, which was triggered by the nicotine poisoning. A newborn can also be born with heart defects
Naidoo and Wills(2001, p.47) “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’ - WHO (1946).” This definition falls into a holistic way of defining health, which believes that there are more areas to look at when thinking of health than just simply the absence of a disease. It considers the cause of why someone is ill and not just simply about ’fixing it’.
The definition of health is the state of being free from illness and injury, it can also be used to explain a person’s mental or physical condition.
According to the dictionary, the word health is “the state of being free from illness.” At a first glance, this defination seems to be very direct and simple, however the meaning of the word ‘health’ nowadays is much more complex. The above definition pretty much sums up our view of health in the first half of the 20th century.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” (World Health Organisation, 2011)
Smoking during the first trimester of pregnancy could lead to the placenta not developing fully. As the placenta carries oxygen and blood to the foetus this may impair growth and link to low birth weights. Babies born to smoking mothers are 30% more likely to have a premature baby which could lead to respiratory distress, problems feeding and they could have difficulty regulating their body temperature. Babies undergo withdrawal like systems and tend to be more jittery and harder to settle. Babies being brought up in a smoking household are at increased risk of cot death and may go on to develop asthma during childhood.
This essay aims to address the issues associated with smoking, its impact on the public health and how this can be tackled through health promotion, therefore the role of the nurse will be explored in respect of the nursing contribution, especially primary care in community settings. The current national and international policies will be considered as a recognition of its impact to the public health, conjointly how these can support the nurse in delivering the health promotion. Finally, the implications for future for Public Health will be considered.
While evaluating and analyzing the issue of smoking, various models and systems could be used. Healthy People 2020 use information analyzed from national census data of events such as the National Vital Statistics System. It also uses data from nationally representative sample surveys for example the National Health Interview survey. Data on the relationship between maternal behavior and birth weight, maternal and child health and vital statistics derived from The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAM) can also be
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) define health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”, and emphasis that “there is
Exposure to second hand smoke, also called involuntary smoking, occurs when non-smokers breathe in the cigarette smoke from others around them. Second hand smoke is harmful to both pregnant women and infants (NTP). Paternal smoking reduces birth weight by about 2 oz. (Berger 115). After birth, babies exposed to cigarette smoke may experience more colds, lung problems, and even ear infections.
World Health Organisation definition of health: the World Health Organisation defines health as “not merely an absence of disease, but a state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being.” (2013 K Pritchett Class Notes)
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 1948.)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines Health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”
”Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." (WHO, 1948) Wellness