Measuring Health: Physical, Mental, and Social Well-being

This essay discusses the importance of measuring health and focuses on the physical, mental, and social well-being of an individual. It explores the risks and screening methods for diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. The essay provides recommendations for improving overall health and well-being.

Measuring Health
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
BACKGROUND ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................4
Physical, mental and social health .........................................................................................4
Physical, mental and social health measures..........................................................................4
Demographic factors..............................................................................................................5
Health measurement...............................................................................................................5
Health risk factors...................................................................................................................6
Health screening.....................................................................................................................6
Type of Health screening .......................................................................................................7
Discussion...............................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
The individual refers to a healthy person who is free of any injury or illness. Health is
considered as a wealth in all person's life and being healthy makes an individual highly
productive, low rate of absenteeism, disciplined and high turnover. If a person is healthy, they
proves to be an asset to their family as well as society, thus measuring the health of an individual
is very crucial from their own health point of view (Network, 2018). Health care refers to the
prevention, diagnosis and management of illness so as to limit the transmission and spread of
harmful microorganism in the society, thereby assuring the public health. A healthy person has a
well regulated mental, social and physical well being, thus taking balanced diet and better
hygienic habits are required to maintain the quality of life.
Mr. A with age of 35 years have recently diagnosed with Diabetes, Obesity and High
blood pressure. He is a deputy manger in a bank and works at the shift of nine to six without
engaging into any kind of physical and social activities. This report will focus on the mental,
physical and social health of our individual. The potential health risks and the measures which
can be undertaken to reduce the affects of diseases will be elaborated. The report will also cover
the screening methods of diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure, including the benefits and
harms related to methods. Appropriate future advices will also be outlined in this report so as to
maintain the quality of health.
BACKGROUND
According to the World Health Organisation in 1948, Health is defined as a condition
where an individual is not only free of disease or any injury but it involves complete and better
mental, social and physical welfare. The well being of any person is directly dependent upon the
structure, function and metabolism of body and the absence or presence of diseases symptoms or
signs. For measuring the health of an individual definition of WHO is considered and the degree
of their well being is measured accordingly.
This essay will cover broad categories of physical, social and mental health of Mr. A so
as to frame the age, income, employment status and gender of an individual covering
demographic factors. Epidemiological data will also be described including all risk factors
associated with diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure (Brazier and et.al., 2017). The possible
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preventive measures and pattern of health condition will also be stated to underline the current
and future health related risks and conditions.
MAIN BODY
Physical, mental and social health
The physical health can be consider as a condition of the human body in the absence of
disease. Maintaining physical health is very crucial for overall welfare of an individual and can
be achieved by holding a better lifestyle, where balanced diet and appropriate physical activities
should be engaged everyday. Habits like drinking alcohol and smoking can affect the physical
health of an individual. The metabolism, genetics and physiology also aids in achieving good
physical health. Healthy environment and good healthcare practices prevent occurrence of illness
and maintain physical health. The mental health on the other hand only refers to the
behavioural, cognitive and emotional well being of an individual. When a person is free of any
mental disorder, they said to healthy mentally (Frank, Glazer and McGuire, 2017). Mental health
can not only affect daily functions of a person but it also affect physical health. Any mental
health related problem can be rise due to anxiety, stress, past trauma, relationship problems,
suicidal thoughts, death of closed one, mood disorders, addiction and the condition and degree of
illness vary from person to person. The social health usually focus on the potential of an
individual to form substantive relationship by interacting in a most positive way to other people.
The style in which one person interact with another and how they adapt towards various social
circumstances and experience, all contributes to the social health of a person.
Physical, mental and social health measures
Mr. A who is suffering from diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure must follow such
physical, mental and social health care measures so as to remain healthy in all possible manner.
Physical health measures like to exercise daily, avoiding smoking and indulging into all
manageable physical activities for young and old adults should be included in daily routine so as
to overcome obesity problem. Morning walks and light exercise is recommended to older person.
Following balanced diet and avoiding the use of sugar and carbohydrate in diet can help in
preventing the effects of diabetes in all sets of ages (Hand, 2016). Such practices if pursued
properly can also help in lowering blood pressure and promote proper functioning in young as
well as old adults. Mental health measures like to avoid stress and anxiety situation in work
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place by taking mind relaxing therapies and distracting the mind in playful activities can be
helpful in lowering blood pressure in young adults. In old adults, light music and reading
spiritual books help in fighting depression and stress, thus maintaining blood pressure and blood
glucose level. Social health measures also help in overcoming diabetes, obesity and high blood
pressure by indulging in healthy conversation with people around them and taking long trips with
family or friends also help in relaxing and physically fit, thereby reducing blood pressure and
obesity condition which eventually lowers the diabetes effect and make a person mentally,
physically and socially fit and healthy.
Demographic factors
Mr. A is a 35 years old male, White British , who is recently a banker in UK and acquire
a master's degree in accounting and finance. He lives in London with his family and has being
diagnosed with diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. Being a banker for past 15 years, he
works in nine hours shift daily where his major work is to sit on the chair and deal with the
accounts and financing of clients. After getting the basic information about Mr. A it is clear that
he doesn't involve in physical and social activities which made him obese day by day. High work
pressure and constant targets from bank made the condition worse and he indulged in smoking
and drinking alcohol which lead to high blood pressure and obesity. Such habits resulted in
lowering the metabolism and poor functioning of body which eventually affects the blood
glucose level, thereby causing diabetes. Such routine and hazardous health practice made the
current health and well being status of Mr. A poor.
Health measurement
The health and well being data which should be collected from Mr. A to determine about
the physical, mental and social health condition is a way through which the health of an
individual can be measured. For estimating the physical health age, height, weight, and
circumference of an individual are considered (Murray and Lopez, 2017). The lifestyle, which
include the diet, smoking, drinking habits, physical activities and employment status greatly
influences the physical health. Such information are collected because they give an idea about
the body build and habits of a person which may cause many diseases if not handled properly.
For determining the mental health of an individual questions regarding their work life and how
happy and satisfied they are with their job and the job responsibilities they have to deal with is
often asked to know the mental status and the health condition of a person. Such information
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proves to be effective in knowing whether a person is suffering from stress, depression or
anxiety. The social health also play an important role in measuring health. The hobbies, outer
interests, relationship status, family and friend support or backgrounds are checked to determine
whether the individual is socially connected and how adaptable a person is in outside situations.
People who are socially well adapted tends to live long and has low risk of getting chronic
diseases.
Health risk factors
Many risk factors are associated with diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure in our
individual. Having unbalanced diet and such diet which are majorly rich in sugar and
carbohydrate tends to make an individual fat. Not being physically and socially active make the
individual suffer from obesity. Not enough sleep and disturbed eating patterns enhance the
risk for obesity. Risk factors like age, using tobacco, being overweight or obese, using to much
sodium and potassium in diet can hamper the proper functioning of body, thereby causing high
blood pressure (Sørensen and et.al., 2015). The risk factors of Diabetes on the other hand may be
caused by obesity, history of family, high blood pressure, age, polycystic ovary syndrome
and inactivity. According to the Public Health England recommended guidelines definite
proportion of protein, carbohydrate, free sugars, salt, dietary fibres, fat and energy should be
added in everyday day so as to remain healthy and fit.
Health screening
A healthcare Screening is a practice which is done to check the condition of an individual
by running some basic screening tests, depending upon the signs and symptoms of an individual.
This test help to search diseases and conditions on primary level, and they are easier to treat.
Routine health screening are suggested for people throughout life as an essential part of healthy
care and can get screenings in doctors office (Valentine, Nembhard and Edmondson, 2015).
Some screening process may need special equipment. Some conditions doctors usually screen
with some special test for prostate cancer in men, diabetes, colorectal cancer, high cholesterol,
osteoporosis. These tests are depended on sex, family history, age, and have some risk factors for
definite disease. The Advantages of Health Screening is wide and covers the test of a person
with no signs for disease to check and also to those who are at higher risk for developing a
disease, purpose is to recognise the disease at a primary level for better involvement and
administration of the disease. It separate the individual into two classes which are liable or
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unreliable to create disease. The Disadvantages of Health Screening involves the emotional
strength which is fatigued on wrong- positive results. Added price of diagnosis examination, it is
high in cost and some people can't afford because these tests are very expensive. A positive
screening effect causing mental state aside diagnosing it is a slow- growth that may never cause
any symptoms and harm.
Type of Health screening
A diagnostic test of a person who is suffering from diabetes require the screening test
which may vary depending upon the severity and type of diabetes. Test include several methods
like blood glucose test, urine glucose test, fasting plasma glucose tests, hba1c test, oral glucose
tolerance test. Mr. A should generally prefer to take time to time medications,prescribed insulin
shots, exercise regularly and control stress level. The Obesity is treatable disease which consider
as globally health concern related with having excess body fat. Genetic and environmental
factors may cause it (Fitzpatrick, 2018). A person can be diagnosed obesity by taking health
history, general physical exam, check BMI, Blood tests etc. Our individual who is suffering from
obesity, should change harmful habits, have special diets, avoid processed food, stay hydrated.
High blood pressure is define the pressure of blood within arteries, primary it produces by the
contraction of muscle. Screening may be done by B.P. Measurement, Ambulatory and home
blood pressure monitoring. A person who is suffering from High Blood Pressure can control B.P.
With a healthy life style, avoid stress, exercise regularly, avoid alcohols and smoking, eat healthy
diet and take medications.
Discussion
Considering the overall health measurements of selected individual, it has been analysed
that patient is at high risk of health. It is identified by evaluating responses through questionnaire
that he has inappropriate eating habits which is responsible for developing problem of obesity
and high blood pressure. However, it has been evaluated that improper food intake create
complications in diabetic condition of an individual which generate a complicated health status.
Moreover, it is determined that unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical exercise create
present complex situation of given person due to which they are at high risk of health.
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CONCLUSION
From the above essay, it can conclude that given patient is suffering from obesity,
diabetes and high blood pressure. The essay focusses on the physical, mental and social health of
our individuals who is a banker from past 15 years and have indulged in some harmful habits due
to constant sitting job and work load. This essay implies the causes and all the risk associated
with the obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. The health measurements and all possible
screening test have been discussed for above diseases and further future advices have been
provided to improve the individual's physical, mental and social well being and making the
individual healthy.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Brazier, J. and et.al., 2017. Measuring and valuing health benefits for economic evaluation.
OXFORD university press.
Fitzpatrick, R., 2018. Measuring health outcomes. Sociology as Applied to Health and Medicine.
p.359.
Frank, R.G., Glazer, J. and McGuire, T.G., 2017. Measuring adverse selection in managed health
care. In Models of Health Plan Payment and Quality Reporting. (pp. 29-57).
Hand, C., 2016. Measuring health-related quality of life in adults with chronic conditions in
primary care settings: Critical review of concepts and 3 tools. Canadian Family
Physician. 62(7). pp.e375-e383.
Murray, C.J. and Lopez, A.D., 2017. Measuring global health: motivation and evolution of the
Global Burden of Disease Study. The Lancet. 390(10100). pp.1460-1464.
Network, I.N.D.E.P.T.H., 2018. Measuring health equity in small areas: findings from
demographic surveillance systems. Routledge.
Sørensen, K. and et.al., 2015. Health literacy in Europe: comparative results of the European
health literacy survey (HLS-EU). European journal of public health. 25(6). pp.1053-
1058.
Valentine, M.A., Nembhard, I.M. and Edmondson, A.C., 2015. Measuring teamwork in health
care settings: a review of survey instruments. Medical care. 53(4). pp.e16-e30.
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