HEALTH, AS THE FUNDAMENTAL ASPECT OF LIFE - Nrs Abdullahi

WHAT'S HEALTH?

Health: is the state of complete physical, social, psychological and spiritual well being of an individual but not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, (WHO). Health: simply means is a state in which an individual is free from disease. WHAT'S DISEASE? Disease: can be defined as the state of impairment in the normal body's physiologic functions either physical, psychological, social or otherwise. Disease: simply means is the state of body dysfunctions Disease: is any deviation from normal functional state of an individual. The human body constitutes of both micro and macro structures ranging from atom_molecule_macro molecule_cell_tissue_organ_system which eventually give rise to an organism, these structures united together to perform distinct functions. Therefore, human body is complex structure consist of systems includes: _Nervous system _Cardiovascular system _Endocrine system _Skeletal system _Muscular system _Intergumentory system _Lymphatic system _Digestive system _Respiratory system _Reproductive system _Urinary system and _Special senses The above systems works hand in hand to ensure normal physiologic functions of the body; any alteration may lead to malfunction and that is the disease. However, there are diverse diseases that influence human being includes:

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5805803503573544" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> 1_Infectious diseases e.g tuberculosis, hepatitis, chickenpox, HIV/AIDS, common cold, SARS, meningitis, Whooping cough, measles, poliomyelitis etc 2_Deficiency diseases e.g xerophthalmia, rickets, kwashiorkor, marasmus, scurvy, osteomalacia, pellagra, folic acid deficiency anaemia, vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia etc 3_Hereditary diseases e.g sickle cell disease, dawn syndrome, Tay sachs disease, Wilson's disease, hemophilia, muscular dystrophy, hypertension 4_Physiological diseases e.g Asthma, glaucoma, insomnia, leukemia, coronary heart disease, arthritis, rheumatism, heart attack, stroke etc Others including non infectious disease such as cancer, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, depression etc. In the other hand diseases are classified in to two: 1. Communicable diseases: are those that can be spread from one person to another either through air, direct or indirect contact such Tuberculosis, Ebola, Influenza, Pertussis, Corona virus, Mumps etc. 2. Non communicable diseases: are those diseases that cannot be spread from one person to another such as arthritis, heart attack, hypertension, osteoporosis, osteomalecia, hydrocephalus etc. There are diseases that are caused by infectious agent either bacteria, virus, fungal, protozoa, algae or rickettsia while other occur as a result of change in life styles, diet, lack of exercise and degeneration (as a result of old age) among other related causative agents/or predisposing factors.

Nurse Abdullahi Musa
Below are some of the measures to protect self from diseases:

• Awareness of the disease, causative agent and signs
• Health education
• Early detection and prompt treatment
• Premarital counseling
• Premarital genotype testing
• Avoid sedentary lifestyles
• Exercise
• Dietary modifications includes reducing high salt intake, sugar, cholesterol, carbohydrate.
• Avoid smoking and alcoholism
• Eat well-balanced diet
• Use of personal protective equipments such face mask, socks, spectacles,etc
• Avoid self medication
• Seek medical advice when ever you're sick
• Avoid contact with person/people infected with infectious disease e.g Tuberculosis
• Isolation of infectious disease patients
• Personal and environmental hygiene such as hand washing frequently, bathing, environmental sanitation etc
• Ensure adequate ventilation
• Avoid overcrowding
• Proper sewage and refuse disposal
• Immunization against infectious diseases such as hepatitis, meningitis, poliomyelitis etc
• Proper food and water sanitation
• Adequate rest and sleep
• Disinfection and sterilization of hospital after used before next use
• Adequate nutrition of children
• Regular medical check-up
• Barrier nursing Conclusively, health is the state of free from any disease; we may contracted some diseases by change in life style, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, poor personal and environmental hygiene, hereditary among other. Although some diseases can be prevented by adhering to the preventive measures such as good personal and environmental sanitation, taking an adequate and balanced diet, use of personal protective equipments etc. Indeed prevention is always better than care. Thank you. By Nurse Abdullahi Musa, Sokoto state. Gmail:abdurrahmanmct08@gmail