Health and Wellbeing: Importance of Health Priority and Health Promotion

Running head: HEALTH AND WELLBEING 1
Health and Wellbeing
Author
Institution

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Health and Wellbeing
Health priority is a joint effort involving commonwealth, state governments, non-
government organisation, clinicians and health experts (Jacqueline 2008). This initiative sought
to center public awareness and health policy on parts that are regarded to cause significantly to
the disease burden, leading to high social and financial costs imposed on regional and rural
communities. All these situations have suppressive components. Thus an understanding of them
helps the population to live health-giving lives thus improving health conditions.
Health priority examines the health care system and health status. It is essential to the
point that is of priority because with appropriate and focused attention there is potential for
gaining health (Wortmann 2012). It stresses that to reduce the disease burden, there should be
holistic strategies, including the continuum of care from prevention through treatment and
management. The research had several findings supporting why health priority is important.
Under this program, much has improved in peoples life. The study conducted in Australia had
these findings. Life expectancy is on the increase for both males and females. Females have a
higher likelihood than males. The life expectancy is 6th and 7th in the world for males and females
respectively. There is death decline for those caused by car accidents, cardiovascular disease, and
cancers. Due to education, cardiovascular death rates are declining.
The diseases or conditions supervised by the National Health Priority Action Council
includes; Cardiovascular, mental disorder, musculoskeletal, neoplasms, injuries, asthma,
dementia, obesity* and diabetes. (Kapp et al. 2015) These conditions significantly contribute
cost to both individuals and communities (Goldberg & McGee 2011). This cost may be
substantial, direct or indirect costs. Direct costs are related to preventing condition or diseases
and giving health services to patients suffering from it. They are included in advancing and

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implementing health promotion programs, diagnosis management and the treatment of the
situation. Indirect cost, however, is not related directly to the diagnosis of the disease but occurs
because the person has the condition. If a person is ill is going to be impacted in any way. The
might be insufficient to function and thus have low income. They may be forced to pay for the
commodity they used to do for themselves, such as washing the clothes. Meanwhile, intangible
costs are often impossible to have their monetary value. They usually attach to the emotional side
of disability and illness, and they are tricky to measure.
It is essential to point out that the group that is impacted under this initiative is the
elderly which refers to people who are of 60+ years. The chronic disease mostly affects the
elderly with 78% of them suffering from coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease,
asthma, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, depression or hypertension (Howat, Boldy & Horner
2004). The sad news is that half of they struggle with more than five chronic diseases. The most
common condition is arthritis 49%, hearing impairment 35% and hypertension 38% and high
cholesterol. In five older adults, one has heart disease, stroke or vascular disease. They also have
higher rates of diabetes 15% and cancer 7%. They form 70% of the patients that suffer from
stroke and more than 15% of coronary heart disease. Meanwhile, 20 % are diabetes, and it is
common for men than women. However, with rising survival for cancer patients and the
continuing ageing of the Australian population, cancer recurrence is increasing, raising the
likelihood of it being a comorbid disease. Another significant illness for the elderly is dementia,
which is at risk with 93% suffering elderly suffering dementia. What they also have a higher rate
of injury relates hospitalisations. Falling is the major causes of these injuries and often results in
fractures or other injuries. The growth of the elderly population is predicted to continue. Despite
elderly having a higher rate of chronic disease, their health is good and even better.