The state of health is a primary concern of any person as it determines the quality of their life and all spheres of activity. For this reason, there is much attention devoted to the investigation of factors impacting this very issue and ways to improve individuals’ wellbeing. At the same time, health is a complex concept that presupposes the existence of multiple variables determining risks and promoting the improvement of the overall state of the patient.
Under these conditions, the enhanced understanding of how the given aspect can change in the course of life and the significance of multiple factors is fundamental for healthy behaviors and lifestyle. The importance of this idea is reflected in the concept of the health-illness continuum that is used to promote the value and human flourishing and attain better outcomes of care provision.
The notion was introduced by John Travis in 1972 with the primary goal to reconsider the existing approach to health (Sharlin, 2015). The health-illness continuum rests on the idea that the health of a person is not just an absence of various diseases’ symptoms (Sharlin, 2015). As against the standard approach to medicines and treatment, the health of a person is comprised of his/her mental and emotional states that serve as important determinants and impact the quality of the future life.
For this reason, moving in one or another direction, a patient can either improve his/her health status or suffer from multiple symptoms and face the risk of premature death (“The health-illness continuum,” n.d.). The given perspective acquires the top priority regarding the increased number of chronic diseases and the provision of care to patients. Individuals should realize the fact that treatment is not the only determinant of their current stats as it can help to achieve the neutral point when they remain responsible for increasing awareness and attaining high-level wellness.
For care providers, the health-illness continuum remains a significant concept that impacts their functioning and provision of care. Regarding the fact that improvement of the quality of clients’ life is one of the central tasks of health workers today, the improved understanding of the continuum offers an enhanced vision of how to promote the value and dignity of individuals. Care providers should not only treat symptoms and diseases; however, the scope of their activity should include education of clients and explanation of the basis of the health-illness continuum (“The health-illness continuum,” n.d.).
The majority of patients have limited awareness of their responsibility for health status and positive behaviors that might help them to move in the right direction and achieve a high level of wellness. For this reason, a health worker should be ready to create the plan and outline the most important steps towards a better quality of life. Using the idea of the health-illness continuum, a specialist can help patients to reconsider their lifestyles and enter a new phase characterized by healthy behaviors.
Applying the outlined framework to my state of health, some important factors should be revealed. There are both facilitators and barriers to the achievement of the high level of wellness that impact my current status. First of all, the understanding of the health-illness continuum promotes the awareness of factors that might help to enhance my current state (“The health-illness continuum,” n.d.).
I try to avoid unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, drinking, or eating wrong food; moreover, considering the existing risk factors, I monitor any alterations in the functioning of the body and respond to them appropriately. However, I think that physical activity is one of the critical factors impacting the well-being of a person, and the absence of training sessions detracts me from my well-being. At the moment, I am on the stage of awareness and education, or good health; however, I am sure that it is critical to move forward towards the achievement of better status.
Today, there are multiple resources and options that can help a person to move toward the achievement of the desired level of wellness. Credible Internet databases can provide me with information about the ways to promote health and decrease the risk of chronic disease. At the same time, there are multiple screening options aimed at the in-depth examination of a person to prevent disease at its early stage. Finally, the guides related to dietary habits and physical activities are offered by health agencies and organizations with the primary goal to improve the health of the nation. I think these resources can help to attain the desired level of wellness.
Altogether, the health-illness continuum remains a critically important concept for the modern health sector. It demonstrates that the absence of symptoms is not the main determinant of the improved status of a person. On the contrary, an individual should move further towards the achievement of positive change by improving the awareness of current risks and engaging in healthy behaviors that will help avoid premature death and enjoy the improved quality of their life. For this reason, the health-illness continuum becomes one of the features that should be considered by individuals who care for their health.
References
A new vision of wellness. (n.d.). Web.
Sharlin, D. (2015). The illness-wellness continuum. Web.
The health-illness continuum. (n.d.). Web.