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Human Experience across the Health-Illness Continuum
Introduction
The idea of wellness was first proposed by American physician, Dr. Halbert L. Dunn. Based on his concept of wellness, alternative medicine practitioners John Travis developed developed the concept of a continuous scale to measure the health or illness of individuals, which has been called the health-illness or illness-wellness continuum (Tooman et al., 2022). Travis believed that this scale could be used to assess the state of health of individuals or populations, and identify high-risk groups for targeted interventions. The health-illness continuum is an important concept in patient care as it helps to identify and understand the various stages of health and illness that a patient may experience. It is based on the idea that all individuals have a unique level of health and a unique trajectory through health and illness. This continuum can help healthcare providers to better understand a patients health status and design appropriate interventions for their care. It also allows for the recognition of the dynamic and changing nature of health, allowing healthcare providers to adjust their approach as needed (Tooman et al., 2022). By understanding where a patient lies on the health-illness continuum, healthcare providers can provide more effective and tailored care to meet their individual needs. This paper will explain the relevance of the continuum to patient care and explain where I myself reside on the continuum and what I can do to better protect my health.
What is the Health-Illness Continuum?
The health-illness continuum is a framework that recognizes that health is not a binary state of being healthy or sick, but rather a spectrum ranging from optimal wellness to severe illness. This perspective is important for healthcare providers to consider when caring for patients as it acknowledges that individuals may have varying degrees of health and that healthcare should be tailored to...…detract from my health and well-being include smoking, poor diet, lack of physical activity, and lack of rest.
Options
There are various options and resources available to help me move towards wellness on the health-illness spectrum. These include preventative healthcare measures such as regular check-ups and screenings, lifestyle changes such as increased physical activity, healthy diet, and stress management techniques, and medical interventions such as medication management for chronic diseases. Additionally, resources such as counseling and therapy can be helpful in managing mental health concerns. These options and resources can assist in moving one towards wellness by addressing underlying health issues, promoting healthy behaviors and providing support for recovery and self-actualization.
Conclusion
Overall, the health-illness continuum is relevant to patient care and aligns with the Christian worldview because it priorites the patient's needs, values, and preferences, providing compassionate and respectful care, addressing the whole person, involving the patient's community, and promoting open communication and partnership between the…
References
Blount, A. J., Dillman Taylor, D. L., & Lambie, G. W. (2020). Wellness in the HelpingProfessions: Historical Overview, Wellness Models, and Current Trends. Journal of Wellness, 2(2), 6.
Connolly, G., & Oates, L. (2022). The wellness industry: the marginalisation ofnaturopathy and western herbal medicine. Australian Journal of Herbal and Naturopathic Medicine, 34(3), 102-108.
Tooman, H., Piirman, M., & Kärp, M. (2022). Using the Principles of the HolisticWellness Concept in Designing and Developing Hospital Services: Case of Pärnu Hospital, Rehabilitation and Well-Being Centre. In Service Design Practices for Healthcare Innovation (pp. 201-223). Springer, Cham.
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