Nursing: Health and Chronic Illness
A chronic illness is an illness that lasts for a long time, or that last longer than acute illnesses, which are brief and do not linger. Chronic illnesses can be treated but usually not cured entirely. One author writes, "The term 'chronic illness' refers to those disease categories for which there is no known 'cure,' to conditions that are ineradicable and usually progressive" (Royer, 1998, p. 1). It is estimated that at least 50 percent of the population suffers from some kind of chronic illness at any given time (Royer, 1998, p. 4). In fact, many health care professionals believe chronic illnesses may be the biggest challenge in health care today (Vickers, 2001, p. 12). Healthy can be described as in good health - the patient does not suffer from any known diseases or illnesses, and they "feel" healthy and fit. Usually, this implies the absence of disease, but that is not always the case. For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger is certainly a healthy individual, and yet he suffers from a rapid heartbeat from time to time, which can be considered a chronic disease, because it reappears in a patient during certain situations. Schwarzenegger is certainly healthy and fit, but even the healthiest patient can harbor a chronic illn
Thus, chronic illness is not a debilitating for many people as it might seem. Many individuals who appear entirely healthy, even perfectly healthy, suffer from surprise heart attacks or strokes that debilitate or kill them. They feel well, engage in their normal activities, and feel little or no discomfort from their chronic illness until it reaches a point where the symptoms begin to be more noticeable and bothersome. While this may seem incongruous, it makes sense from several standpoints. Their diabetes can be treated, and for many, they can live totally normal, active lives, while they monitor their diabetes and keep it in check. It is entirely possible for a person to suffer from many different chronic illnesses and still be healthy, both mentally and physically. In other words, more than average people, they seem to engage in impression management" (Royer, 1998, p. However, other chronic illnesses are treatable and patients can live normal, happy lives without feeling the effects of the illness in every aspect of their lives. These people are healthy in other aspects of their lives, but their chronic illness disables them so much they cannot manage it. This is apparent when health professionals interview patients with chronic illnesses, who maintain they are healthier after their diagnosis because they have altered their diets, exercise more, and generally feel better about their overall health (Wells, 2000, p. In conclusion, while it might seem to be a paradox, a person suffering from a chronic illness can be healthy in every other aspect of their life. This does not mean the person in unhealthy. It can be argued that even the most "healthy" individuals are not all that healthy, and that health, like chronic illness, has degrees. In another example, they may be suffering from a condition, such as diabetes, and not know it.
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