Question

choose a research article that includes either physiological or psychological knowledgeand discuss how the knowledge would influence healthcare

Answer 1

Health psychology and its influence on Health care:  

The treatment, management and prevention of illness or the preservation of mental and physical wellbeing through the services offered by the Medical, nursing and allied health professions is called Health care . Health care can be influenced by a number of factors such as new area of knowledge in physical or psychological areas, innovations, technilogy development, demography of population, the country's health system etc. One of the psychological knowledge that influenced Health care is Health psychology.

The information regarding Health psychology influenced the health professionals and health care greatly. As the body and mind are interrelated , the Health of a person is greatly related to his mind or mental state, especially in this era of technological development and stress. Psychology refers to the study of human mind and behaviour. Health psychology  studies about ' how human behaviour affect the health '.

Many illness are occuring as a result of faulty behaviour of the individual. This behaviours commonly called negative health behaviours . Some of the negative health behaviours are physical inactivity, laziness, Alcoholism, smoking and other substance abuses, multiple sexual partners, unsafe sex, overconsumption of junk foods and processed food, stress and tension etc. These behaviours directly or indirectly causing many lifestyle diseases as well as communicable diseases. These behaviours can't be treated due to medications, but to approach them psychologically and motivate them to adapt healthy behaviours.

The diseases and various illness caused by negative health behaviours are, Heart diseases , Hypertension , Diabetes Mellitus, stroke , cancer, HIV AIDS, infectious diseases, birth defects in children etc. Most of these diseases are preventable or controllable. Individual has to take decisions and responsibility for his own health. For that he has to get motivated for a healthy change in his daily activities, attitude, life style, work environment and in home environment.  

Health professionals have to learn about basic psychology about humans and also about health psychology. They should know how to approach individuals with different personalities and perspectives. Preventive care in medical field is mainly based on positive health behaviours of individuals such as:

* Avoiding alcohol, smoking and other substance abuse

* Stress Management techniques, relaxation

* Healthy diet

* Regular exercise and out door games and sports.

* Adequate rest and sleep and adequate fluid intake .

In this Era of lifestyle diseases, that kills millions in an year, and psychosomatic disorders ( peptic ulcer, Migrane, Hypertension, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases) , it is important for health professionals and health care to acquire and make use of knowledge about Health psychology.