Session 01 Preventive, Promotive, Curative Health

Summary

In this session, Dr. Priya Kulkan explores the vital distinction between preventive and curative health. She explains that preventive health focuses on maintaining well-being through proactive measures like lifestyle choices, vaccinations, and regular checkups to prevent disease. In contrast, curative health is concerned with restoring health after an illness occurs through treatment and rehabilitation. Dr. Kulkan highlights how preventive care not only reduces the occurrence of diseases but also improves quality of life and reduces healthcare costs. She also emphasizes the importance of mental health, wellness practices, and early intervention to foster overall well-being.

Takeaways

• 😀 Health is defined by the World Health Organization as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease.
• 😀 Wellness is actively attained through healthy lifestyle measures and encompasses physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual dimensions.
• 😀 Preventive health focuses on proactive measures like lifestyle changes, regular checkups, vaccinations, and hygiene to maintain good health and prevent disease.
• 😀 Preventive health is cost-effective and reduces the need for extensive medical treatment by preventing diseases before they occur.
• 😀 Regular physical activity, such as brisk walking for 30 minutes several times a week, is crucial for preventing lifestyle-related diseases like obesity and hypertension.
• 😀 A healthy diet is essential for preventive health, including whole foods, hydration, and limiting junk food and processed sugars.
• 😀 Stress management, mental health awareness, and self-care are important for maintaining both physical and emotional well-being.
• 😀 Health education empowers individuals with the knowledge to make informed decisions about disease prevention and overall health management.
• 😀 Annual health checkups and screenings are vital for early detection of diseases and interventions before symptoms appear.
• 😀 Curative health addresses diseases or injuries once they occur, focusing on diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and follow-up care to restore well-being.
• 😀 While preventive health reduces the incidence of illness, curative health is necessary for managing and treating conditions that have already arisen, often through medical interventions like medications, therapy, or surgery.

Q & A

What is the World Health Organization's definition of health?

The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

How does health fluctuate throughout our lives?

Health fluctuates from time to time. Sometimes we feel perfectly fine, other times we feel low, and at times we may fall ill. Our state of health is always changing, but the goal is to achieve optimal health at any given moment.

What does wellness encompass beyond physical health?

Wellness includes emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and occupational dimensions, in addition to physical, mental, and social health.

How is wellness actively attained?

Wellness is actively attained through healthy lifestyle practices, such as maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in physical activity, managing stress, and nurturing mental and emotional well-being.

What is the role of preventive health?

Preventive health involves taking proactive measures to maintain good health and prevent illness before it occurs. This includes lifestyle modifications, health education, vaccinations, regular check-ups, and hygiene practices.

Why is preventive health considered more cost-effective than curative health?

Preventive health reduces the occurrence of diseases and injuries, which in turn decreases the need for medical treatments and hospitalization. This helps save on the costs of treating actual diseases or injuries.

What are some key preventive health measures?

Key preventive health measures include making smart lifestyle choices (such as exercising and eating healthily), seeking regular health check-ups, getting vaccinated, managing stress, practicing good hygiene, and avoiding substance abuse.

How can preventive health improve quality of life?

By adopting preventive health measures, individuals can improve their overall well-being, reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases, enhance longevity, and enjoy a better quality of life by preventing the onset of illness.

What is curative health, and when does it come into play?

Curative health comes into play after the occurrence of illness or injury. It focuses on curing diseases and restoring health through treatments such as medications, surgery, or rehabilitation.

Why is follow-up care important in curative health?

Follow-up care is essential to ensure proper recovery, monitor progress, adjust treatment plans if needed, and provide additional support to prevent further health issues. It plays a critical role in maintaining health after illness or injury.