Differences between Illness and Health

Diseases and Illnesses

Diseases and illnesses are concepts that are difficult to define succinctly. Marshall Marinker distinguished between the two. He claimed that disease ’\u2026is a pathological process, most commonly physical as in throat infection, or cancer of the bronchus, occasionally unclear in cause, as in schizophrenia. The characteristic that characterizes sickness is a divergence from a biological norm. Diseases that doctors can see, touch, measure, and smell are objective. Diseases are regarded as essential truths in the medical world...’ (Boyd, 2000).

Sickness

Sickness, on the other hand, is the sensation that a patient experiences upon visiting the doctor. It is a subjective response to not feeling well, and how the patient and society consider being the cause and outcome of the sickness; how it impacts the patient’s social interaction and the steps taken to remedy the situation. It thus is an experience and the meaning attached to that experience, (Boyd, 2000).

Differences between Illness and Health

Differences are the variations between illness and health that make the two dissimilar. A disease, for instance, has to be cured, in case of injury, infection or exposure to dangerous substances whereas illness needs to cope with, for example when one feels pain, stress or fatigued, (Helman, 1981). Whereas a disease is diagnosed based on specific, standardized tests and codes, illness is usually determined based on the patients reports regarding physical and mental problems. Infections are the result of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa among others while illnesses are a revolved response that is purposed to clear the illness. Whereas it is possible for someone to feel better after treatment yet they still have a disease, one can feel ill without any disease. Unlike a disease that presents specific signs and symptoms that make its scope narrow, illnesses present various signs and symptoms that are many and therefore make its range-wide, (Hofmann, 2002). The two are thus different in this manner.

Similarities

Diseases and illnesses are often correlated and happen together. They both call for action: diseases make one to seek for diagnosis while illnesses make individuals to seek out for help. The two are adverse bodily occurrences: diseases are conceived at the hospital while illnesses are conceived by society. Both are governed by the conditions of social status. Therefore a condition like fibromyalgia attracts more attention than the common cold. Illness can affect disease; stomach ulcers may cause stress which in result makes the illness worse. There universality makes them the same, in terms of symptoms and signs for every locality in which they occur, (Hofmann, 2002). The five reasons make the two similar.

Examples of Illnesses and Diseases

Examples of diseases are malaria, hepatitis A, measles, tuberculosis, and Zika. Illnesses include: hypertension, fever, coronary heart disease, arthritis, and schizophrenia

Diseases, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Treatments, prevention and Nursing Interventions

Diseases

Malaria

It is caused by the Plasmodium parasite and spread by the female Anopheles mosquitoes, blood transfusion and sharing of needles. Symptoms include fever, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, and sweats and chills. It can be prevented by preventing bites, keen awareness of risk, prophylaxis and seeking diagnosis after traveling, (“Health A-Z - Conditions and treatments,” 2017). Antimalarial medication is used to prevent and treat malaria.

Hepatitis A

It is caused by a virus that is spread through infected poo. Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, jaundice, tiredness, and lack of appetite. Prevention requires hand washing, awareness of risk, and vaccination, (“Health A-Z - Conditions and treatments,” 2017). There is no treatment; it heals by itself within a few months.

Measles

It is caused by a virus. Symptoms include a running nose, sore red eyes, fever, grey, white spots inside cheeks, and a red-brown rash that is blotchy. Prevention requires the normal human immunoglobin (HNIG) or the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, (MMR), (“Health A-Z - Conditions and treatments,” 2017). There is no treatment, it resolves by itself within a week.

Tuberculosis

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes it. Symptoms include Persistent bloody cough, weight loss, fever, fatigue and night sweats. Prevention requires vaccination with Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), risk awareness, chemoprophylaxis, respiratory hygiene, ventilation, (“Health A-Z - Conditions and treatments,” 2017). Treatment is by antibiotics - isoniazid and rifampicin in the initial six months and ethambutol and pyrazinamide in the first two of the six months.

Zika

It is caused by the Zika virus and spread via infected mosquitoes. Symptoms include rash, fever, itching, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. Prevention demands risk awareness, use insect repellent, sleeping under a mosquito net, taking folic acid before pregnancy, (“Health A-Z - Conditions and treatments,” 2017). Treatment is not available, and symptom management can be done.

Illnesses

Hypertension

It is caused by age, overweight, smoking, lack of sleep, and alcohol overuse. Signs and symptoms may include bloodshot eyes, dizziness, and facial flushing. Prevention includes: healthy diet, get active, lose weight, stop smoking, and have a good sleep, (“Health A-Z - Conditions and treatments,” 2017). Treatment includes exercise, cutting on salt intake, use of antihypertensive drugs.

Fever

It is caused by a virus, bacterial, tumor, inflammation, and heat exhaustion among others. Signs and symptoms include a headache, irritability, chills, sweating, and dehydration. Prevention requires limiting exposure to the agent responsible, (“Health A-Z - Conditions and treatments,” 2017). Treatment involves rest and consumption of fluids and painkillers.

Coronary Heart Disease

The causes include high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, family history, and smoking. Signs and symptoms include heart attacks, chest pain, heart palpitations, heart failure, and breathlessness. Prevention includes: consuming low-fat, high fiber diet, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, stop smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption, (“Health A-Z - Conditions and treatments,” 2017). Treatment includes lifestyle changes and surgery.

Arthritis

It is caused by injury, poor metabolism, genetics, and immune dysfunction. Signs and symptoms include joint pain, inflammation, muscle wasting, the warm red skin over joints, and difficulty in movement. Prevention requires: maintaining mobility and joint function, (“Health A-Z - Conditions and treatments,” 2017). Treatment involves pain management as no cure is available.

Schizophrenia

The cause is unknown but thought to be physical, psychological, environmental and genetic factors. Signs and symptoms include behavior changes, delusions, delusions, and withdrawal. Prevention requires: avoiding hard drugs, moderate alcohol, and being social, (“Health A-Z - Conditions and treatments,” 2017). Treatment requires antipsychotics, psychological treatment, and detention.

Nursing Interventions

Patients are often confused and frustrated with diseases, medicines and other interventions. Nursing officers should, therefore: listen to the patients actively, prevent accidents such as falls, ensure adequate pain control, promote proper hydration of patients, and encourage patients to practice self-care, (CCRN, 2017). In doing this, a nurse will assist patients to feel comfortable and respond to treatment.

References

Boyd, K. (2000). Disease, illness, sickness, health, healing, and wholeness: exploring some elusive concepts. Medical Humanities, 26(1), 9-17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/mh.26.1.9

CCRN, K. (2017). 7 Nursing Interventions You Do Every Single Shift – Written by a Nurse! | NRSNG. NRSNG. Retrieved 20 November 2017, from https://www.nrsng.com/7-nursing-interventions-every-single-shift-written-nurse/

Health A-Z - Conditions and treatments. (2017). Nhs.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2017, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/

Helman, C. (1981). Disease versus illness in General Practice. Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 548-552.

Hofmann, B. (2002). On the Triad Disease, Illness and Sickness. The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, 27(6), 651-673. http://dx.doi.org/10.1076/jmep.27.6.651.13793