WHAT IS ILLNESS

WHAT IS ILLNESS?

Illness is a broad term that defines the poor state of mind, body, and, to a certain extent, spirit. It is the general feeling of being sick or unwell (outside the person’s belief of good health). It can also be defined as A state of bad health or disease

COMMON ILLNESS IN THE HOME

v  Common cold:

Most children will get up to five colds a year and this is probably the most common reason children miss school. Symptoms include a sore throat, headache, loss of appetite, mild fever and a blocked/ runny nose. Most colds clear up on their own but you can use supplements which contain added zinc, Echinacea and vitamin c which have all been shown to shorten the duration of the cold. 

v  Acne:

Acne is probably the commonest skin condition seen at the Medical Centre. The majority of people will have grown out of their acne by their late teens so that on the whole we see only the more severe and persistent cases. In the past, diet, dirt and grime have been blamed for the condition but it is now known that these have little or nothing to do with its cause. The primary defect seems to be an inherited disposition for the cells which line the duct carrying oils from the sebaceous glands to the surface of the skin to thicken, thus blocking the duct. There is then a build-up of oils which are broken down by bacteria into fatty acids. The enzymes the bacteria use for this then irritate the surrounding tissues. There is also a tendency for the oil glands to over produce.

v  Backache:

Despite what is often written, the human back is well adapted to an upright posture, but it is not well adapted to lifting heavy weights, being scrunched up in a rugby scrum, being repetitively shock-loaded for mile after marathon mile or being hunched up over a desk for hours on end.

Whatever the causes of backache few of them are serious in the student age group. If you do a lot of unfamiliar bending, stooping, or heavy lifting, as for example in gardening or furniture moving, you may expect your back muscles to ache for a few days, just like any other overworked muscles. The usual remedies like soaking in a hot bath, lying in a comfortable position and taking a couple of simple pain-killing tablets give a lot of relief.

Unfortunately, study has to go on while the backache gets better, if indeed it is not the cause of the aching in the first place. As exams get closer, tension is added, by the feeling that the aching is making study quite impossible. All symptoms seem to get worse when one is under pressure.

v  Chickenpox:

A contagious illness that causes an itchy rash and red spots all over the body. Symptoms develop about 14 to 16 days after exposure to the virus and include a fever, headache, cough, and a sore throat. The itchy rash appears after the first symptoms start and it can take up to 10 days until a person is no longer contagious. Vitamins believed to be beneficial to those suffering from chicken pox include vitamin B-12, vitamin A with beta carotene, and vitamins D, E, and K.

v  Conjunctivitis:

Commonly known as pinkeye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. It is very common in children, mostly because it is highly contagious. It is caused by many of the same bacteria and viruses responsible for colds. Foods rich in Vitamin A and B2 may also be helpful in the treatment of conjunctivitis.

v  Gastroenteritis:

A primary cause of diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting most often caused by the rotavirus infection, or from E. coli, or Salmonella, parasites.  Symptoms typically include abdominal cramps but may also include a fever, nausea, vomiting and dehydration. An over-the-counter probiotic can help shorten the duration of the illness and rehydrate drinks will prevent dehydration. 

v  Hand, foot and mouth disease:

Primarily caused by enteroviruses. Symptoms include a low-grade fever followed by sores or blisters in the mouth, on the palms, fingers, soles of the feet, and on the buttocks. It is contagious and treatment includes pain medication. Some studies have shown a deficiency in vitamin A can worsen the disease, so eating a diet rich in leafy greens, squashes and liver can help shorten the duration of the illness.

CAUSES OF ILLNESS

An illness can be caused by a number of factors such as the following:

·         The presence of diseases – Usually, illness occurs because the body has an underlying disease. The body is designed to provide a natural response to any abnormality or threat, whether it’s a bacterium, virus, or excessive production of immature cells. But in the process, such reaction can make a person feel sick. A good example is allergy. Allergy develops when the immune system tries to kill the threat and releases histamines in the process. Nevertheless, a person may also have a disease but not feel unwell. Diseases such as HIV, AIDS, and even cancer can take months or years before they progress and make a person feel unwell.

·         Hypochondriasis – Hypochondriasis is the reason why people can “feel ill” even without a disease. This is a condition that refers to the abnormal or moderate to severe anxiety of having a disease. A simple change in the body temperature may be considered by a hypochondriac as a fever or a symptom of a serious disease like cancer. Hypochondriasis is further fueled these days by the Internet. A person can now quickly and easily search for symptoms or self-diagnose.

·         Stress – Stress is a natural response of the body to a trigger. The body is designed to take either a fight-or-flight mode when in a stressful situation. Either way, it can increase the heart rate, blood pressure, and can lead to the production of a hormone called cortisol, which can make a person ill when stress becomes chronic.

·         Malnutrition – As a complex structure, the body needs different kinds of enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and other macro and micronutrients to function properly. In the long term, if the body becomes deficient in any of these, it can feel ill.

PREVENTION OF ILLNESS

·         Get your health screening tests (health screenings for women or health screenings for men). Lots of people have weird logic around health screening tests. They say things like “I don’t want to know if something is wrong with me.” But, these tests are specifically chosen because catching the specific illnesses early can make a huge difference in the course of the illness and can even work as disease prevention. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend tests that don’t matter to the health outcome. So be sure to have these tests done. If you need help finding a doctor, try this guide to doctors in your area (choose the specialty “preventive medicine,” “general practice” or “family practice”).

·         Don’t smoke. It is simply incredible how much smoking shortens both the length of a person’s life and the quality. If you do smoke, quitting is your number one health priority. Try these smoking cessation resources.

·         Be active. Keeping yourself healthy means moving and using your body. There are standardized exercise recommendations for people. Exercise has a number of benefits, including improving your sex life and giving you more energy. Work exercise into your daily/weekly schedule for years more life.

·         Eat healthy. Sure, we all know that we should eat a healthy diet, but did you know that adding just two servings of fruit and vegetables a day could increase your life expectancy? Building healthy eating habits is possibly the single most important thing you can do to protect your health, prevent disease, and minimize the severity of any conditions you already have. Besides, once you get used to healthy foods, they taste better and give you more energy than all the processed junk foods out there (really, you just need about a week of no cheating to start feeling the difference).

·         Lose weight. Turns out that losing weight isn’t as hard as everyone makes it out to be. If you switch out processed foods for fresh produce and get rid of sodas and other sugary foods you can save hundreds of calories a day. Start there.

·         Take your medicine. There are some wonderful preventive medicines out there like statins (which lower cholesterol). These medicines can prevent heart attacks and even help reverse illnesses. For example, men older than 45 should talk with their doctor about taking a daily aspirin to help prevent heart disease (men younger than 45 with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or who smoke should talk to their doctor about it too). Also, everyone should stay up-to-date with their immunizations (most people 50+ should have a flu shot each year and most people 65+ should have a pneumonia shot). If your doctor has suggested a preventive medicine, please take it. By doing so, you are getting the full advantage of our high-tech scientific medical system. You will likely live longer and better. That’s pretty amazing for a little pill.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO ARE ILL

·         Keep careful notes. Even a minor illness can involve many tests, new medications and detailed home care. It's hard to remember a lot of information, such as the dosing of multiple drugs and complex hospital discharge notes, especially when you're stressed. Use a small notebook or the notes app on a smartphone to write down the names and contact numbers for everyone on the medical team. Include dates on your notes -- you may need them to provide a timeline to future specialists or to reconcile medical bills later on.

·         Monitor their care. Even though your loved one's primary doctor or surgeon may be the point person for other healthcare team members, you can be the backstop. Know and share your loved one's medical history, any daily medications, allergies and known drug side effects. If a new medication is prescribed, ask what it's for, possible side effects and whether it could have a negative interaction with any other drugs. Being an active member in care lessens the chance of medical errors.

·         Be present. If your loved one is in the hospital, your daily visit may be the one thing he or she looks forward to each day. Bring everyday items from home, like a robe or toiletries, to make the patient more comfortable.

·         Have a second-in-command. Being an advocate is like having another job. There may be times when you can't be there. Designate a close friend or relative who can step in for you.

·         Take care of yourself. A spouse or child's serious illness can take an emotional toll and you can't function optimally if you're run down. Eat a healthy diet and get enough sleep.