Health Promotion, Wellness, and Disease Prevention

health promotion

The process of enabling people to increase control over and improve their health.

wellness

a positive state of health

disease prevention

Specific, population-based and individual-based interventions for primary and secondary (early detection) prevention, aiming to minimize the burden of diseases and associated risk factors.

health promotion

the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health

health education

Learning experiences that are designed to improve the health of an individual or community through increased knowledge or by influencing attitudes.

Healthy People Initiative

established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), with the intention of improving the overall health of Americans. The Healthy People website includes data showing current and past health trends in the United States, along with goals and resources available to achieve them.

health outcomes

The result of health promotion and disease prevention measures. Individuals are empowered to make healthier decisions to reduce the likelihood of developing disease and disability through health promotion and disease prevention programs.

Risk Factors

A condition that increases the likelihood of developing a disease or altered health condition

Modifiable Risk Factors

are behaviors and actions that can affect a client’s risk for developing a disease.

nonmodifiable risk factors

Risk factors that cannot be changed.

Environmental Factors

an external factor that can have an impact on both public and individual health.

Socioeconomic Factors

as a factor negatively affecting health outcomes.

Health literacy

the ability to process and comprehend basic health information that is necessary for the client to make appropriate health care decisions.

prevention

The action of stopping something from happening.

Primary Prevention

The act of intervening before negative health effects occur;decreasing the risk for development of medical conditions by changing behaviors or minimizing exposures.

Secondary Prevention

consists of early screening to detect a disease process before it progresses to cause symptoms or complications in the client.

Tertiary Prevention

focuses on controlling the chronic effects of a health issue that has already occurred and on restoring the individual to optimal functioning.

Quaternary Prevention

focuses on protecting clients from the excessive use of medical interventions that can cause more harm than good.