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Health-Illness Continuum

Name

University

Instructor’s Name

Date of Submission
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Introduction

First put out by John W. Travis and Regina S. Ryan, the health-illness continuum visually

represents well-being (Paglial et al., 2021). It focuses on well-being or well-being as more than

just the absence of disease and transcends the physical component of health. As part of patient

care, this presentation will focus on the author's current health and expound on the

appropriateness of applying the health-illness continuum.

The Roles of Health-illness Continuum on Healthcare

Another useful concept is the health-illness continuum, which further enriches the

treatment of inpatients and increases patients' health. With high levels of wellness and health at

one end and high levels of illness and bad health, including mortality, at the other, this method

suggests that a continuum can represent health and illness. This scale assesses patients'

conditions, and a healthcare plan is established based on the results.

Since health is not always a goal, including the "wellness" component in patient care is

crucial. Researchers state, "A person's perspective of quality of life is reflected in their concept

of health" (Paglial et al., 2021). Moving on a scale from ill to symptom-free is only a temporary

objective. Healthcare professionals should flourish for high-level wellness, which includes

flourishing and a happy mental state.

This viewpoint is critical in nursing and Healthcare. The perspective permits us to

address a wide range of topics not related explicitly to managing illness (Fuseini et al., 2021).

Additionally, it offers a chance to assess patients with chronic illnesses practically. Different

healthcare aims are accepted and welcomed by this holistic approach. Addressing symptoms and

concentrating on mental and emotional well-being offers support and resources to help patients

live better lives. The researchers contend that prosperity and the general well-being of society are
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a direct result of human flourishing, dignity, and value. According to Tomczyk et al. (2022),

human flourishing is undoubtedly a combination of mental and physical health, happiness and

satisfaction, purpose and meaning, virtue and character, and close social ties. According to Xiao,

Chow, Liu, and Chan (2019, p. 1791), dignity is a quality "closely connected to esteem and

status such that patients can live by their standards and values." Therefore, Healthcare should

focus on treating people rather than ailments to contribute to these sectors.

The Health-Illness continuum method promotes patients' worth, dignity, and well-being

by focusing on their mental and physical health. Pagliai et al. (2021) state that the health-illness

continuum's foundational idea of wellness "considers all facets of an individual including

physical, psychological, cultural, spiritual, and intellectual." Thus, by adopting this approach,

healthcare professionals significantly improve people's and society's health.

Physicians can preserve or restore a patient's health while simultaneously upholding their

dignity and putting their flourishing first by treating them as a person with mental needs and

honoring their values. It is vital for treating patients who require palliative care or who have

chronic illnesses. This method used by physicians and nurses may help other patients in their

daily lives and provide them with important insights into enhancing their health outside medical

settings.

Health-Illness Continuum and Personal Health

When viewed from a traditional perspective, my health is generally rather satisfactory. I

am young, in a moderate level of physical condition, and free of both acute and chronic illnesses.

My family has no history of cancer or heart disease, and I have seasonal colds twice a year.

However, in the past few years, I have been feeling worn out, depressed, and lacking in energy. I

frequently find myself in bored and anxious moods that hinder my ability to be productive. As a
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result, I would place myself in a false state of wellness that appears when there are no signs of

illness.

My lifestyle choices and behaviors may be the source of the sensations I am

experiencing. I frequently eat fast food or cafeteria sandwiches instead of breakfast to stay awake

in class, drink four cups of coffee daily, and consume at least five energy drinks weekly. I take

long naps once I get home, which makes it difficult for me to go to bed at a decent hour because

I would not have time to socialize and finish my schoolwork otherwise. I have trouble focusing

on what I am doing because I am usually exhausted and drowsy. In addition, I need help finding

time for consistent exercise.

It worries me that my lifestyle could be more productive. I could have done better if I had

been more responsible and disciplined and missed many possibilities. On the other hand, after

learning about the health-illness continuum, I began considering ways to enhance my overall

health. As a result, I developed several ideas that might be useful.

Resources and options for wellness

I must focus on eating better, exercising frequently, and altering other habits to enhance

my health and reach outstanding or optimal health. These include erratic sleep patterns, poor

time management, and putting myself in stressful circumstances. By addressing these problems, I

could advance on the wellness scale and create circumstances to avoid disease.

Beginning at a neutral place on the health-illness continuum, I am committed to learning

more, developing myself, and becoming more conscious of my condition. I know I need to get

on the scale, but I want to create a better routine and learn more about healthy eating.

Procrastination is another behavior I must reevaluate to normalize my sleep.

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Therefore, my strategy should include the following steps: Limit caffeine consumption,

get at least 8 hours of sleep each night, and schedule my days with an emphasis on setting aside

time for studying, working out, and relaxing. This list is incomplete, though, and I take into

account a few more approaches that might be useful. I want to seek peer and professional support

along with the above-mentioned actions. In the hopes of receiving helpful advice on self-

actualization, I have already scheduled a session with a study counselor. I am committed to

living life to the fullest and achieving a state of optimal well-being.

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References

Fuseini, A. G., Ley, L., Rawson, H., Ridley, B., & Kerr, D. (2022). A systematic review of

patient‐reported dignity and dignified care during acute hospital admission. Journal of

Advanced Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15370

Pagliai, G., Dinu, M., Madarena, M. P., Bonaccio, M., Iacoviello, L., & Sofi, F. (2021).

Consumption of ultra-processed foods and health status: a systematic review and meta-

analysis. British Journal of Nutrition, 125(3), 308-318.

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114520002688

Tomczyk, S., Schlick, S., Gansler, T., McLaren, T., Muehlan, H., Peter, L. J., & Schmidt, S.

(2022). Continuum beliefs of mental illness: a systematic review of measures. Social

Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-022-

02345-4

Xiao, J., Chow, K.M., Liu, Y., & Chan, C.W.H. (2019). Effects of dignity therapy on dignity,

psychological well-being and quality of life among palliative care cancer patients: A

systematic review and meta-analysis. Psycho-Oncology, 28, 1791-1802. Web.