Healthillnesscontinuum

A graphic illustration that incorporates individual mental and emotional health.

1. The health illness continuum is a graphic illustration of a well being ,concept first proposed by John.W.Travis in 1972. It describes how wellbeing is more than simply an absence of illness , but also incorporates the individuals mental and emotional health. Travis believed that the standard approach to medicines , which assumes a person is well when there are no signs or symptoms of disease ,was insufficient. INTRODUCTION:-

2. DEFINITION:- The health illness continuum is an illustration that draws a connection between the treatment paradigm and the wellness paradigm. The illness-wellness continuum is a graphical illustration of a well being concept first proposed by travio in 1972.It proposes that wellbeing include mental and emotional health ,as well as the presence or absence of illness.

3. CONCEPT OF HEALTH AND ILLNESS:- A disease is a physical or mental disturbance involving symptoms , Dysfunction or tissue damage , while illness is a more subjective concept related to personal experience of a disease . There are many diseases that can affect the human body ranging from common colds to cancers.

4. Composed of two arrows pointing in opposite direction and joined at a neutral point. ILLNESS-WELLNESS CONTINUUM:-

5. Movement to the right to the arrows (toward the high level of wellness) equals an increase in level of health and wellbeing Achieved in three steps , Awareness Education Growth

6. Movement to the left to the arrows (towards premature death) equates a progressively decreasing state of health. Achieved in three steps, Signs Symptoms Disability

7. Most important is the direction is the individual facing on the pathway If towards high level of health , a person has genuinely optimistic or positive out look despite his/ her health status. If towards premature death , a person has a genuinely pessimistic or negative out look about his or her health status.

8. Compares treatment model with a wellness model , If treatment model is used ,an individual can move right only to the neutral point. Eg : A hypertensive client who only takes his medications without making any other life style changes. If wellness model is used , an individual can move right past the neutral point. Eg :As hypertensive client not only takes medications but stops smoking , looses weight , starts an exercise programme etc.

9. Dunn’s high level wellness grid:- health axis and environmental axis intersect forming four quadrant High level wellness in favourable environmental eg - person who implement healthy lifestyle and has complete resources to support his lifestyle . 2. Emergent –high level wellness in unfavourable environmental eg - person who has knowledge to implement healthy lifestyle but does not implement adequate self-care because of some family responsibility. Protected poor health in favourable environment eg - ill person whose needs are met by the health are system. Poor health in an unfavourable environment eg - young child who is starving in a drought stricken country.

10. Very favourable environment death Peak wellness Very unfavourable environment Protected poor health High level wellness Poor health Emergent high level wellness Health axis Health axis Environment axis Environment axis