Health Promotion Paper free essay sample

The American Journal of Health Promotion defines health promotion as the science and art of assisting people in adjusting their lifestyle to move toward a state of optimal health, this is a balance between different dimensions including physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual health (ODonnell, 2009). There are three main levels of health promotion, primary, secondary and tertiary. This paper will go into detail about the five steps included within these three levels of health prevention. Social dimension involves the encouragement of a healthy living environment and also initiates better communication with patients and their families. Spiritual dimension connects patients to the real meaning of life and when to take charge. The patient will begin to understand the importance of their health and connect them to their personal beliefs. The physical dimension concentrates on physical well-being using exercise and strengthening cardiac health and endurance. Within this dimension patients begin to learn how to monitor their own vitals and be able to recognize the bodies warning signs of medical complications. We will write a custom essay sample on Health Promotion Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page With health promotion patient have the possibility of having a healthier life from birth to death. Primary Level of Health Promotion Primary health promotion involves health promotion and specific preventions. It encompasses taking a hands-on approach in educating patients about preventing health problems. The main goal is to dramatically decrease the risk of developing a disease or medical problem before it transpires. This level of health promotion is focused on education to help individuals to become more attentive of the importance of improving health and the actions that need to be taken at the primary preventive health level. Patients are taught how to use the correct preventive measures. A patient who has had testing and determined to be pre-diabetic can be educated on life style changes and eating habits. This is an example of primary health promotion. Also informing patients of the importance of immunizations such as pneumonia and flu vaccines are included in primary prevention. Specific protection involved in this level includes attention to personal hygiene and the use of sanitation such as that when in the hospital using hang sanitizer. Also it is important to educate patients for the need of nutrition and vitamins to increase nutritional status and to prevent further health complications. We as nurses can also prevent problems such as identifying patient’s allergies to medications, properly documenting this information to insure these patients do not receive this medication and potentially develop an anaphylaxis reaction. Prevention is always key, however most of the time diseases such as diabetes progress. Secondary Level of Health Promotion Secondary prevention involves early diagnosis and rapid identification of a disease before it advances and patients have signs and symptoms that become debilitating. It motivates people to move away from damaging actions and towards heathier habits such as diet and exercise. It also encourages screening and diagnosis testing for illnesses related to unhealthy behaviors. An example of secondary prevention is teaching patients the importance of colonoscopies as a screening tool to prevent colon rectal cancer. This stage of health promotion is geared towards preventing further complications and debilitation in patients that have an existing disease. Tertiary Level of Health Promotion Tertiary prevention level involves a patient who has a disease that has caused a disability that is irreversible. This level encompasses efforts that can help to reduce the effects of the disease by rebuilding functions through rehab and physical thearpy as well as closer monitoring to track the progression such as blood test or diagnosis testing. The main goal of tertiary care is to help return the patient back to a functioning capability by lowering the effects of the disease. An example of tertiary prevention would be: A patient who had stroke due to uncontrolled high blood pressure and now has trouble swallowing, walking and doing every day activites from the effects from the stroke. Physical therapy and speech therapy work with this patient to rebuild prior level of function. In conclusion health promotion no matter which level involves educating the patient. Primary prevention involves informing patient about diseases and how to prevent them from occurring. Once a patient has been diagnosed with a disease they are taught life style changes, medications and screening tools to prevent advancement of diseases. As soon as a patient has hit the tertiary prevention level they have a known disease that has need for rehabilitation to regain prior function. Each level is a tool to help patients gain knowledge about diseases to make necessary changes to prevent and control his or her health. This all happens through education that has properly been delivered to each individual regarding their specific care.