The Concept of Health and Ilness

There are a lot of different definitions of health and ill health all of which are socially constructed; meaning that social issues usually influence a new theory or alter an old definition of health. In this section I will be analysing different definitions of health and ill health.

The medical model focuses on the molecular structure of drugs and indicators of mental or emotional disorders. However, the medical model is not effective treating mental and emotional disorders. The medical model indicts the notion that abnormal behavior is the product of physical problems and be treated medically. The medical model depends upon independent tests to demonstrate or contradict if a patient is ill. The psychological model uses tests to demonstrate or contradict whether a patient is ill. It is at this point of agreement that the two models separate. A restriction to the psychological model is if a patient that is unconscious, or their communication ability is compromised to the degree that they are

A bio-psychosocial describes an approach systematically considers biological, psychological, and social factors and their complex interactions in understanding health, illness, and health care delivery. Biological factors include defective biological processes compounds that lead to biological dysfunction and illness. Psychological factors are about the individual’s emotions, behavior, and mental processes. Social factors include social status and relations. These factors are all considered in an attempt to understand the underlying factors of such disease.

Acknowledging how the patient perceives illness and health, helps in understanding the beliefs and how they relate with preventing

Malnutrition is a common health problem and is caused by either an inadequate diet or a problem absorbing nutrients from food. There are many reasons why this might happen, including having reduced mobility, a long-term health condition or a low income. The most common symptom of under-nutrition is unplanned weight loss and other signs could be weak muscles, feeling tired all the time, low mood and an increase in illnesses or infections. The main sign of over-nutrition is being overweight or obese. However, people with under-nutrition can also be overweight if they eat a diet high in energy (calories), but low in other nutrients. Signs of malnutrition in children can include failure to grow at the expected rate and changes in behaviour such as appearing unusually irritable, sluggish or anxious

Arthur Kelinman developed the explanatory model of illness which incorporates a series of questions that is unique to a patient’s illness to develop a treatment plan. This model assesses how patient illnesses are associated with the environment and the culture around them, while also “seeking the how, why, what, when, where, and what next of illness, disease, and health experience” (“Explanatory Model”). Asking the patient what is their opinion on what caused their illness and how they believe it should be treated will help identify their beliefs and help when planning an intervention.

The Biopsychosocial model (BPS) was established in the early 1970s as a replacement for the biomedical approach created by George Engel (1977). He had argued against the reductionist biomedical model of disease for not considering the behavioural, psychological and social dimensions in the model (Jull, 2017). Wade and Halligan, (2016) had established that biomedical remains as the dominant healthcare approach. The aim of BPS is to integrate the biological factors with psychological and environmental factors, Engel (1977) suggested that the biopsychosocial model of illness has a significant role in the functioning of humans in terms of disease or illness and can make medicine more scientific and should be adopted into psychiatry research (Adler, 2009). Davies and Roache, (2017) established that the model was exceedingly determined, recommending new details for practices as well as a non-reductive advocate for mental illness.

In order to understand health, different models or frameworks for thinking have been developed which have been useful. The Biomedical model which evolved since the 19th century from Galen’s (Greek physician 200AD) concept of pathogen, focused on removing the disease/disability and not on prevention or general well-being [9]. The Biopsychosocial model however, doesn’t merely focus on the physical state of

In spite of their diversity, there are some consistent ideas that keep running among numerous conventional systems of health care and in addition systems which have developed all the more as of late. These likenesses incorporate an accentuation on entire frameworks, the advancement of self-consideration and the incitement of self-mending procedures, the combination of brain and body, the profound way of sickness and enhancing so as to recuperate, and the anticipation of disease the imperative vitality, or understated strengths, in the

The biopsychosocial model and the biomedical model are long-standing theories that describe how an individual's mental state affects their physical health. The biomedical model has been used in Western medicine for a longer time compared to the biopsychosocial model. However, the biomedical model health in a fashion that separates physical health and mental health. This model says that the two do not interact with each other in any way that will affect illnesses. The biopsychosocial model connects physical and mental health saying that they do have an effect on each other. Poor physical health can lead to poor mental health, and vice versa. This paper will describe what each of the models are, how they are used in today's medicine field, as well as compare and contrast the models to each other.

described as holistic (Ryan et al., 2006). The medical model was the overriding philosophy in social care and managed care settings up to recent times. The most common criticism of the medical model is that it views the individual as the problem. The medical model then assumes a more mechanical view of illness and indeed health, illness is purely a fault in the machine and diagnoses are formulated about functional and structural failings of that machine. Concepts of mind, family and social environment are not viewed as having much relevance or real impact on the machine. Thus, the person, the body, and ultimately the machine, is thought to function autonomously (Zigmond, 1976).

The biopsychosocial model of health is a multidimensional approach to health (Lecture 1, 2014). It focuses not only on the biology or physiology of a person, but also includes the psychology of a person and the manner in which society and culture influence health as well (Gurung, 2014). It was developed in the 21st century as an important theoretical framework to approaching health and medicine (Richtig, Trapp, Kapfhamer, Jenull, Richtig & Trapp, 2016).This approach makes the assumption that the mind and body connection is not only relevant but also vital to a person’s entire well being. It takes a holistic approach when treating an individual and can improve health in the

As humans remain different in nature, so are their perceptions and response towards certain issues of their lives and well being. The concept of health assumes to be a typical example of this and hence, poses debate about what it is. “Health” is a word which means different things to different people (Ewles & Simnett, 2003). This essay intends to critically discuss the meaning of health by exploring different definitions and their contraindications.

Understanding the potential health challenges a patient may face is something that is required for holistic care. The comorbidity of the patient’s

There is one undeniable fact of life; if you are human, you will get sick. This last week of college has been a trying time for me. After the first two weeks of college having gone with out a hitch, I should have guessed something bad was coming. I managed to get sick, in fact, I have never felt so terrible in my life. My throat was swollen, to the point I could not swallow, my stomach felt as if it were reenacting World War I, and I was over all physically drained. Yet, regardless of how poorly I felt, the world moves on. Everything from, extracurricular activities, classes, my study plan, and life in general, continues to march on in sickness and in health.