Health by definition is the complete physical, mental and social well-being (Burch, 2001). In the past health has been defined as the absence of disease. Health Promotion Essay enables people the ability and resources to improve and control their overall health. Being able to adjust and adapt to various social and physical environments in day-to-day activities is a trait of a healthy individual.
Health promotion is not just the responsibility of those individuals in the health field. An individual’s well-being reflects whether or not that person has a healthy lifestyle. Therefore health promotion becomes an issue for employers, retailers, sports and policy makers among others because issues such as safety and environmental factors will have an influence on the well-being of an individual (Ottawa Charter, 1986). Collaborative and coordinated efforts to provide safer goods and services, and a cleaner, more enjoyable environment should be the goal for all.
The goal of all involved should be to provide a healthier environment that will provide a better well-being for the population. Promoting health requires the detection of any barriers that would hinder the health promotion process and removal of them. Promoting health is, also, educating the public to current health issues. There are various aspects of health promotion.
Health promotion can be applied to any group or environment. A few of the more popular places and populations we see health promotion being addressed more often are the workplace, community, among adolescent, and the elderly. However, I believe the most effective and important place to begin health promotion is within our school systems. Promoting a healthy lifestyle, bettering quality of life, and preventing disease and illness of the future are three of the main goals for health promoters (CDC1, 2001). Educating our youth is what I feel is the most effective way to accomplish this.
Neglecting our older population for the younger population is not what is being implied. The “baby boomers” are now becoming the elderly population and need to be addressed. Addressing the younger generation now will hopefully lessen the pressures as they become older. The United States population has tripled since the 1900’s. Adults ages 65 years and older have increased from 3. 1 million in 1900 to 33.
9 million currently. At this rate by 2030 the number of older Americans will be more than 70 million (CDC1, 2001). One in every 5 Americans will be a senior citizen. This increase in the elderly population will affect health care cost and health promoting techniques.
As more of the American population gets older, it becomes necessary to educate them and provide them with resources now. Americans need to know where they can go to get the proper treatment. They should be aware of what resources are available outside of a doctor’s office and hospital. Chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and arthritis, will be the most problematic among older Americans.
There is an Arthritis Self Help Course available that educates the public on arthritis and the management of pain and minimization of symptoms. Adults are taught how early diagnosis and appropriate treatments are important in the management of arthritis. The Arthritis Self Help Course is proven to help adults reduce arthritis pain by as much as 20%. Those adults who enrolled in the self help course were better able to understand arthritis and physicians visits declined by 40%. However this wonderful program reaches less than 1% of the population despite its positive outcomes (CDC1, 2001).
Community education and outreach programs in most areas are nonexistent or lack resources to educate the public on what is available to them. Those who are in charge of these programs lack the training and expertise to find the resources for what is available to their community. These same leaders are not fully aware of what the community needs due to the lack of communication with the constituents. Treating chronic diseases in the early stages can save lives and reduce health care costs.
Health care providers realize the importance in prevention. For example, Medicare will cover screening for breast and colorectal cancers. However, 20% of women aged 65-69 have not received a mammogram within the past two years. Only half of all Americans 65 and older have received the recommended .
